{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"ME\" and year = 2014 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/wgans-inside-maine-with-senator-angus-king-and-gwi-ceo-and-founder-fletcher-kittredge-december-2014", "WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and GWI CEO and Founder Fletcher Kittredge, December 2014", "2014-12-27", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content\n\n\t\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n            \n                \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n            \n             WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and GWI CEO and Founder Fletcher Kittredge, December 2014", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/wgans-inside-maine-with-senator-angus-king-and-senator-cory-booker-december-2014", "WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Senator Cory Booker, December 2014", "2014-12-27", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content\n\n\t\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n            \n                \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n            \n             WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Senator Cory Booker, December 2014", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/welcoming-decision-lift-ban-blood-donation-gay-men", "Welcoming decision to lift ban on blood donation by gay men", "2014-12-23", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree welcomed news today that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will recommend an end to a decades-old ban on blood donation by gay and bisexual men. Pingree had asked the Obama Administration repeatedly, as recently as this month, to repeal the ban.\n\"This was a policy that should have been scrapped decades ago,\" Pingree said. \"It's an insult to gay and bisexual men, it has no public health value and has unnecessarily kept millions of potential blood donors from giving much-needed blood.\"\nThe FDA said today that it will recommend an end to the lifetime ban on gay men donating blood, but will recommend replacing it with a one-year ban after homosexual activity.\nIn a letter to a top Obama Administration official earlier this month, Pingree and Congressional colleagues argued for a risk-based assessment of blood donors, and not reject donors based solely on a sexual orientation label.\n\"A one-year deferral policy is a step forward,\" Pingree and her colleagues wrote. \"However, such a policy still prevents many low-risk individuals from donating blood. If we are serious about protecting and enhancing our nation's blood supply, we must embrace science and reject outdated stereotypes. As such, we urge you to implement a risk-based donation policy for men who have sex with men, rather than simply another arbitrary time-based deferral.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/oped/torture-and-the-arc-of-history", "Torture and the Arc of History", "2014-12-23", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Torture and the Arc of History\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Senator Angus King\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Tuesday, December 23, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            \"Military necessity does not admit of cruelty...\"\r\n-- Abraham Lincoln  General Order 100, Article 16  April 24, 1863\r\nAs usual, Lincoln captures the heart of the matter in a few words. In the midst of the gravest threat to our national existence -- \"military necessity\" of the highest order -- his general order to the Union Army established the clear bounds of conduct toward captured enemy combatants and informs us today as we wrestle with similar issues of national security and human dignity.\r\nHere is the full text--\r\n \r\nMilitary necessity does not admit of cruelty, that is, the infliction of suffering for the sake of suffering or for revenge, nor for maiming or wounding except in fight, nor torture to extort confessions.\r\n \r\nThe national debate that has raged since the recent release of the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on the CIA's \"Enhanced Interrogation Techniques\" has bounced around various issues, including the process that produced the report, the CIA's candor in connection with the program, how the program was managed, whether the report was a partisan exercise, how much it cost, who was interviewed, and whether it should have been released at all.\r\nBut while this is the stuff of debate on cable news and the occasional speech on the Senate floor, none of these issues go to the fundamental question -- whether torture should be a part of our national security toolkit under any circumstances. And it's the \"any circumstances\" part which makes this so hard. The second basic question, inextricably tied to the first, is whether torture works -- is it an effective tool for extracting otherwise unavailable information which may save thousands or even millions of lives.\r\nThis is what some supporters of the techniques refer to as the ticking time bomb scenario -- the good guy (let's call him Jack Bauer) has before him the bad guy who has the code to defuse the bomb which will incinerate an American city. Millions of lives are at stake, there is no time to spare, the terrorist has no remorse and is refusing to cooperate. Very few people faced with this precise situation would tell Jack Bauer that the human rights of the terrorist trump the lives of millions of innocents. But the problem with the scenario is that it never happens so clearly in real life and the result of answering yes to the theoretical question inevitably leads to the slipperiest of slopes toward real-life brutality and dishonor.\r\nAnd this is exactly what happened in this case. Although there are arguments to be made about the process which produced the Senate report, the totality of the picture it paints with stark clarity is of a quick descent from something close to the ticking time bomb (the possibility of a second attack after 9/11) to waterboarding (183 times in one case), forced rectal feeding, and death from hypothermia after being chained naked to a concrete floor -- all with little or no new intelligence gained, plots foiled, or bad guys captured. This latter conclusion is at the heart of the report -- the torture didn't work. After reviewing in excruciating detail the 20 cases used repeatedly by the CIA's leadership to justify the program, the report makes a very powerful case that the Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (as John McCain pointed out recently, an Orwellian phrase if ever there was one) were not effective in producing new and reliable information. And this squares with the consensus of professional interrogators -- that conventional approaches to interrogation, like those employed regularly by our intelligence, military, and law enforcement officials, produce more information and (importantly) more reliable information than torture without undermining our moral authority, serving as a recruitment poster for our enemies, or staining our national character. Interestingly, the CIA position on the \"did it work\" question -- after being confronted with the data in the report -- has migrated from the certainty of 10 years ago to today's position that the answer to this question is \"unknowable.\" This is a huge concession by those in a good position to know and drastically undermines the case for torture that the architects of this program are still maintaining and that entertainment like\u00a024and\u00a0Zero Dark Thirty\u00a0have drummed into all of us. The arc of human history is from brutality to civilization, although this progression is neither steady nor unbroken; man's inhumanity to man has always been and will continue to be part of the human condition. But an important inflection point on that arc was the radical notion at the core of the founding of this country, that \"All men are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights...\" We set out to be different, to break with a past where cruelty was routine, humanity was disposable, and an enemy's barbarity justified a response in kind. We may not live this creed every day; surely we have fallen short. But to deliberately betray it, especially for gains which are \"unknowable,\" is a betrayal of our very identity as a nation. In the last analysis, what makes us exceptional in history's arc is that we acknowledge our failings -- as we have in this case -- and move on, true to ourselves and to the revolutionary vision of our founders.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-reed-lead-bipartisan-coalition-of-senators-seeking-to-boost-liheap-fuel-assistance-", "Collins, King, Reed Lead Bipartisan Coalition of Senators Seeking to Boost LIHEAP Fuel Assistance", "2014-12-23", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King, Reed Lead Bipartisan Coalition of Senators Seeking to Boost LIHEAP Fuel Assistance \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 23, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013\u00a0In an effort to help provide fuel assistance to households struggling with their winter heating bills, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) are once again leading the effort to restore and increase federal heating assistance to low-income families and seniors to past years\u2019 levels.\r\nCollins and Reed are leading a bipartisan coalition of 43 U.S. Senators, including King, in urging the President to provide Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at no less than $4.7 billion.\u00a0 Last year, Senators Reed and Collins successfully led the effort, with Sen. King\u2019s support, to increase funding for LIHEAP by $169 million as part of the 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which the President signed into law in January.\u00a0 The (FY) 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Bill passed by Congress this week provides $3.39 billion in LIHEAP funding through September 30, 2015.\r\n   LIHEAP is the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, providing vital assistance during both the cold winter and hot summer months. \u00a0LIHEAP households are among the most vulnerable in the country. \u00a0According to the National Energy Assistance Director's Association, more than 90 percent of LIHEAP recipients have at least one household member who is a child, elderly, or disabled, and 20 percent of households include at least one veteran.\r\nThe current funding level is able to serve just 20 percent of the eligible population, and those who receive LIHEAP assistance have seen their average grant reduced by nearly $100 since 2010, from $520 in FY 2010 to $424 in FY 2014.\u00a0 With the average LIHEAP grant estimated to cover less than half of the average home heating costs for a household this winter, many low-income families and seniors will struggle to pay for the basic necessity of home energy and will have fewer resources available to meet other essential needs. \u201cThe LIHEAP program is one of our most effective tools to help senior citizens and less-fortunate households keep warm during the winter,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Collins.\u00a0 \u201cEnergy costs remain high and LIHEAP funding is a vital lifeline that helps prevent people from having to choose between heating their home, paying their bills, or going without food or medicine.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u201cMaine\u2019s bitterly cold winters present serious challenges for our state\u2019s most vulnerable families, who often end up having to confront the choice of whether to pay the ever-increasing heating bill or provide for everyday necessities,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cI urge the Administration to\u00a0include\u00a0these critical funds, which will help tens of thousands of Mainers to stay warm while still being able to make ends meet.\u201d \u201cFunding for LIHEAP is not keeping up with demand.\u00a0 We are doing everything we can to stretch these federal dollars, but more families are in need and we need to protect them during the cold winter months.\u00a0 We must keep the pressure on this Administration to robustly fund this critical program so that thousands of families can keep their heat on in the winter.\u00a0 We must also continue making smart investments in weatherizing more homes to try to reduce both energy bills and fuel consumption,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Reed, noting that\u00a0LIHEAP helped about 34,000 Rhode Islanders with their energy bills last year. Text of the letter is provided below: President\u00a0   The White House   1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW   Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President,\r\n   We are writing to request that you prioritize the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in your Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 budget proposal by including no less than $4.7 billion for this program that provides critical support to our most vulnerable citizens. LIHEAP is the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, providing vital assistance during both the cold winter and hot summer months. LIHEAP households are among the most vulnerable in the country. According to the National Energy Assistance Director's Association, more than 90 percent of LIHEAP recipients have at least one household member who is a child, elderly, or disabled, and 20 percent of households include at least one veteran. For these households, LIHEAP funding has been a lifeline during challenging economic times. Access to affordable home energy is not a luxury. It is a matter of health and safety. We understand the ongoing discretionary budget challenges. However, we are deeply concerned that the number of households eligible for LIHEAP assistance continues to exceed available funding while the average cost of home heating is expected to remain unaffordable for millions of households nationwide. In fact, the current funding level is able to serve just 20 percent of the eligible population, and those who receive LIHEAP assistance have seen their average grant reduced by nearly $100 since 2010, from $520 in FY 2010 to $424 in FY 2014. Additionally, the purchasing power of LIHEAP has declined in recent years. Since FY 2010, the average LIHEAP grant has fallen from about 60 percent to 44 percent of the cost of home heating. For households using delivered fuels, this decline is even more dramatic, covering just 18 percent of heating oil and propane costs. With the average LIHEAP grant estimated to cover less than half of the average home heating costs for a household this winter, many low-income families and seniors will struggle to pay for the basic necessity of home energy and will have fewer resources available to meet other essential needs. As you finalize your FY 2016 budget request, we ask that you take into account the high demand for LIHEAP assistance. We urge you to reprioritize this program within your FY 2016 budget and restore funding to this program to a level no less than $4.7 billion.   Thank you for your attention to and consideration of this important request. Sincerely, Jack Reed   Susan Collins   Angus King   Sherrod Brown   Kelly Ayotte   Edward Markey   Lisa Murkowski   Bernard Sanders   Sheldon Whitehouse   Tom Udall   Amy Klobuchar   Jeff Merkley   Tammy Baldwin   Richard Blumenthal   Mazie Hirono   Jeanne Shaheen   Al Franken   Kirsten Gillibrand   Carl Levin   Mark Pryor   Mark Begich   Kay Hagan   Robert Casey   John Walsh   Mary Landrieu   John Rockefeller   Chris Coons   Patrick Leahy   Tim Johnson   Joe Manchin   Richard Durbin   Brian Schatz   Elizabeth Warren   Cory Booker   Robert Menendez   Dianne Feinstein   Chris Murphy   Debbie Stabenow   Charles Schumer   Tim Kaine   Ron Wyden   Maria Cantwell   Jon Tester\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20150103093104/http://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/kings-remarks-at-linda-lords-retirement-celebration", "King's Remarks at Linda Lord's Retirement Celebration", "2014-12-22", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Your Neighborhood \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWe know the value of people-to-people connections, and my state staff is committed to serving the people of Maine by getting out of the office and into your community.  Click here to see where we will be this month.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-joined-23-other-members-congress-support-lawsuit-against-va", "Pingree is joined by 23 other Members of Congress to support lawsuit against VA", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Suit demands VA treat survivors of sexual assault and victims of combat-related PTSD equally Congresswoman Chellie Pingree was joined by 23 other members of the House of Representatives yesterday in filing a friend of the court brief in a lawsuit aimed at forcing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to treatsurvivors of military sexual trauma (MST) the same way they treat veterans suffering from combat-related PTSD.\n\t\"The VA has done the right thing by making it easier for combat veterans to get benefits for their PTSD but sadly they just won't treat MST survivors equally,\" Pingree said. \"We've asked them again and again to make the same reforms with these survivors but they just haven't done it. It's too bad that this had to end up in court but if that's what it takes to get the VA to reform their practices, I am certainly going to support that lawsuit.\" Pingree led a group of 24 House members in filing an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit, which was brought by the Service Women's Action Network and the Vietnam Veterans of America against the VA and filed in federal court in Washington this summer. Pingree, who has been a vocal advocate for the rights of MST survivors, said the VA uses a dual standard in handling claims from veterans who suffer from PTSD related to combat and those whose PTSD is related to sexual assault. In order to file for benefits for a disability, a veteran has to show three thingsmedical diagnosis of the disability, a link between the disability and an event that happened while they were serving and evidence that the event actually occurred. Recognizing that it is sometimes hard for veterans in combat to collect evidence of a traumatic event that leads to PTSD, the VA has allowed those veterans to submit their own testimony as evidence. Despite repeated requests, the VA has not extended a similar policy to survivors ofsexual assault. \"We know from the Pentagon that the vast majority of sexual assaults in the military go unreported. And I know from the dozens of veterans who have contacted me that even when they do report an assault it was oftenswept under the rug,\" Pingree said. \"Asking a veteran to provide additional proof that the assault occurred in that situation is just unrealistic.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-bill-signed-into-law-", "King Bill Signed Into Law", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Bill Signed Into Law \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tProvision will benefit charitable causes like legal service assistance for low-income Mainers\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 19, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPORTLAND, ME \u2013 Yesterday, President Barack Obama signed into law a provision sponsored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that creates insurance coverage parity between certain bank and credit union accounts. The Credit Union Share Insurance Fund Parity Act, legislation that Senator King introduced in and helped usher through the Senate, creates deposit insurance parity for credit unions by directing the National Credit Union Administration to extend share insurance coverage to trust accounts, such as Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) and other similar accounts, opened and managed by credit union members.\r\n\u201cFor years credit unions across Maine struggled under disparate treatment afforded to Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cWith this provision now in law, IOLTA accounts at Maine\u2019s credit unions will be treated equally with those as other financial institutions, generating more revenue from interest that will go directly towards assisting low-income Mainers who are seeking help with legal services. And across the nation, those states that have not authorized credit unions as depositories for attorney IOLTA funds should now be able to do so. I\u2019m glad we were able to secure this common sense fix that will make a big difference in the lives of Mainers who need it most.\u201d\r\n\u201cIn our very first conversation with Senator King, shortly after he was elected, he identified regulatory relief for credit unions and other smaller, financial institutions for as a top priority for him.\u00a0 In subsequent meetings and frequent communications, we and the team at the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) have had with he and his staff, regulatory burden remained a topic of conversation and he was clearly committed to doing all that he could on this issue,\u201d said John Murphy, President and CEO of the Maine Credit Union League. \u201cWe truly appreciate the hard work, articulation and strong support of Senator King and his staff working tirelessly to overcome obstacles and challenges in getting this legislation passed.\u201d\r\nLawyers often handle money that belongs to clients, such as settlement checks, fees advanced for services not yet performed, or money to pay various court fees. Sometimes the amount of money that an attorney handles for a single client is quite large or held for a long period of time. In such cases, lawyers deposit the funds into trust accounts, where the funds can earn interest for the client.\u00a0 It is unethical for attorneys to derive any financial benefit from funds that belong to their clients.\r\nOften, however, the amount of money that a lawyer handles for a single client is quite small or held for only a short period of time, and cannot earn interest for the client in excess of the costs incurred to collect that interest. Lawyers place these deposits into combined, or pooled IOLTAs with other nominal or short-term client funds. Banks in turn forward the interest earned on these accounts to the state IOLTA program, which uses the money to fund a variety of charitable causes \u2013 primarily the provision of civil legal services to people near or at the poverty line, including the working poor, low income veterans and persons with disabilities.\r\nThough IOLTAs receive insurance through the FDIC, so that individual client funds in the account are insured, the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund only covers members\u2019 accounts of the credit union. In the case of an attorney wishing to establish an IOLTA at a credit union, his or her clients must generally also be credit union members or jump through regulatory hoops in order to receive insurance coverage. The provision signed into law yesterday will now require the National Credit Union Administration to provide pass-through share insurance for the deposits or shares of any interest on lawyers trust accounts, which would establish parity in deposit insurance treatment for these accounts and similar accounts insured by the FDIC and make it easier for attorney to use credit unions as their IOLTA depository.\r\nThe bill signed by the President yesterday was one of the pillars of the RELIEVE Act introduced earlier this year by Senators King, Mark Warner (D-Va.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Senator King had also introduced the provision as a standalone bill last July.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-pine-tree-legal-assistance-announce-technology-initiative-to-help-maine-veterans-obtain-legal-services-and-advice", "King, Pine Tree Legal Assistance Announce Technology Initiative to Help Maine Veterans Obtain Legal Services and Advice", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King, Pine Tree Legal Assistance Announce Technology Initiative to Help Maine Veterans Obtain Legal Services and Advice\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 19, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPORTLAND, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined officials from Pine Tree Legal Assistance (PTLA) and the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) to announce a new technology initiative aimed at improving civil legal aid for veterans, particularly underserved female veterans. The initiative, which is led by PTLA and supported by a 36-month grant from LSC, will expand StatesideLegal.org, a national legal assistance website for military members, veterans, and their families. It will also help develop new user-friendly tools tailored specifically for female veterans needing civil legal assistance. \u201cEvery American deserves the benefit of high-quality, affordable legal services, especially those who have served to defend a country founded upon the rule of law,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThrough this initiative, Pine Tree Legal Assistance will further expand its reach to provide critical legal assistance to veterans, particularly women veterans, in Maine who may otherwise have had a difficult time locating or affording the counsel and advice they need.\u201d PTLA recently won a grant of $138,139 through LSC to fund the initiative. LSC, an independent corporation founded by Congress, is the country\u2019s single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. This initiative is one of 38 projects nationwide that will receive funding in 2014. LSC President Jim Sandman and Pine Tree Legal Assistance Executive Director Nan Heald also spoke at today\u2019s event.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-king-congresswoman-pingree-urge-feds-to-buy-more-maine-blueberries", "Senator King, Congresswoman Pingree urge feds to buy more Maine blueberries", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator King, Congresswoman Pingree urge feds to buy more Maine blueberries\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t2014 harvest was one of the highest on record; federal purchases would help assist with oversupply\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 19, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSenator Angus King and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree have written to the US Department of Agriculture to urge the federal government to buy 18 million pounds of frozen Maine wild blueberries to use in school lunch and emergency food assistance programs.\r\n\"Not only are frozen wild blueberries a nutritious addition to school meals or emergency food programs, but USDA purchases also stabilize the price for growers who face challenges from domestic oversupply and international competition,\" they wrote. \"Wild blueberries are an inherently fragile product; over 99% of the crop is frozen at harvest. This puts Maine in a position of being highly financially dependent on the strength of the frozen blueberry market.\"\r\nThe 2014 wild blueberry harvest in Maine was reportedly the second highest on record, with crops yielding about 20% more fresh blueberries than in an average year. Over the last few years, production of blueberries in the United States and Canada has increased significantly, but since sales of fresh blueberries has not kept pace, a surplus of frozen blueberries has developed. King and Pingree say that federal purchases of blueberries will address that oversupply as well as providing a popular, nutritious ingredient for school meals and other federal feeding programs.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-restoring-diplomatic-relations-cuba", "Statement on restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba", "2014-12-18", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree made the following statement on the restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba.\n\n\tI strongly support President Obama's decision to reestablish diplomatic relations with Cuba. It's a change that is long overdue and I'm optimistic it will lead to increased communication and interaction with the Cuban people.\n\n\tNormalizing relations with Cuba will help boost trade between our two countries, which benefits everyone. But the President can only go so far, and ultimately Congress should lift the 50 year-old economic embargo, a misguided policy which has benefited neither the United States or the Cuban people. Even Alan Gross, who lost five years of his life in a Cuban prison, called for an end to what he described as a \"mutually belligerent\" policy.\n\n\tPingree has visited Cuba twice. In 2003 she traveled to the country as a member of the 21-person delegation from to promote economic development and cutltural understanding. Nearly ten years later she returned to the island as a Member of Congress to inspect the U.S. Military base at Guantanamo Bay.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-supports-passage-of-tax-relief-provisions", "King Supports Passage of Tax Relief Provisions", "2014-12-16", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Supports Passage of Tax Relief Provisions\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 16, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the Senate this evening passed a package of 55 retroactive tax-relief provisions, referred to as \u201ctax-extenders\u201d, that will allow businesses and taxpayers to claim certain tax deductions for their 2014 tax filing. Senator King released the following statement:\r\n\u201cSeveral of the provisions renewed in this package are crucial to Maine businesses and help them to make the type of investments that drive economic activity and promote economic growth. But frankly, Congress should have acted a year ago when these provisions expired so that business owners and entrepreneurs would have had the certainty to make investments without worrying about whether or not Congress would come through for them at the end of the year. It's only common sense to recognize that retroactive extensions run counter to the purpose of prospective tax incentives. Congress should have also found a way to pay for more than $40 billion price tag for these tax breaks because, while we may enjoy them now, it's future generations who will have to pay for them.\r\n\"The best way for Congress to end what has become an annual embarrassment would be for us to take up comprehensive tax reform. Then we could work together to assess the merits of each provision to ensure we're supporting incentives that are effective and that utilize taxpayer money efficiently, and it would finally get Congress out of the way and provide the certainty to help inspire investors to put their money back into the economy.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-congressional-delegation-urges-ferc-to-provide-consumers-with-certainty-on-natural-gas-prices", "Maine Congressional Delegation Urges FERC to Provide Consumers with Certainty on Natural Gas Prices", "2014-12-16", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Maine Congressional Delegation Urges FERC to Provide Consumers with Certainty on Natural Gas Prices\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 16, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 In a letter today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to quickly reach a decision regarding the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System 2010 rate proceeding in order to provide certainty to businesses and consumers of natural gas.\r\n\u201cThis case is complex and, because of rehearing requests and compliance filing challenges, natural gas consumers in northern New England continue to pay interstate transportation rates that may be more than 50 percent higher than the rate that the Commission finally approves. While these higher rates may ultimately be refunded, we are concerned that consumers face another winter heating season paying more than they should,\u201d they wrote. \u201c\u2026Further, uncertainty about transportation rates creates a difficult business climate for the pipeline owners, the shippers, and, ultimately, retail customers. The pipeline owners need business certainty and the retail customers should not pay higher than necessary rates. Additionally, our Maine paper mills face too many challenges \u2013 from foreign trade to changing market conditions \u2013 and they should not be asked to continue paying gas pipeline shipping rates that have not been approved by the Commission.\u201d\r\nOn May 12, 2010, Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS), which is a partnership between TransCanada Corporation and Gaz Metro, Inc of Quebec, applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a shipping rate increase. Under current law, PNGTS is allowed to charge its contracting entities the higher requested rate until FERC decides to approve or deny the application. In the meantime, that rate increase is absorbed by the contracting entities and then passed along to consumers who ultimately pay for it through higher energy bills. However, if FERC ultimately denies the application, then those contracting entities and their consumers are entitled to refunds and a return to lower energy bills. However, with the onset of winter, the absence of a timely decision from FERC has created a climate of unpredictability for businesses that rely on the pipeline for their supply of natural gas. A decision by FERC would give businesses the certainty needed to make long-term investments in our state.\r\nThe complete text of the letter is below and can be read HERE:\r\n+++\r\nDecember 16, 2014\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Honorable Cheryl LaFleur\r\nFederal Energy Regulatory Commission\r\n888 First Street, NE\r\nWashington, DC 20426\r\n\r\nRE:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Portland Natural Gas Transmission System, RP10-729\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDear Chairman LaFleur:\r\nWe write in regard to requests for rehearing that have been filed in the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS) 2010 rate proceeding (Docket No. RP10-729). PNGTS applied for a rate increase on May 12, 2010, and since the fall of 2010 has been charging a firm transportation rate of approximately $1.32 per Dth. This case is complex and, because of rehearing requests and compliance filing challenges, natural gas consumers in northern New England continue to pay interstate transportation rates that may be more than 50 percent higher than the rate that the Commission finally approves.\r\nWhile these higher rates may ultimately be refunded, we are concerned that consumers face another winter heating season paying more than they should. Moreover, given that the previous PNGTS rate case (Docket No. RP08-306) overlapped with the 2010 case, it has been more than six years since shippers on PNGTS have paid transportation rates that have received Commission scrutiny and approval. Unless these higher rates are found by the Commission to be just and reasonable, consumers cannot be asked to pay higher shipping rates during a time of skyrocketing natural gas and electricity prices.\u00a0\r\nFurther, uncertainty about transportation rates creates a difficult business climate for the pipeline owners, the shippers, and, ultimately, retail customers. The pipeline owners need business certainty and the retail customers should not pay higher than necessary rates. Additionally, our Maine paper mills face too many challenges \u2013 from foreign trade to changing market conditions \u2013 and they should not be asked to continue paying gas pipeline shipping rates that have not been approved by the Commission.\u00a0\r\nWe urge the Commission to decide this rate proceeding as expeditiously as possible.\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\n####", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-pingree-amendment-ban-chinese-chicken-school-lunches-included", "DeLauro, Pingree amendment to ban Chinese chicken from school lunches included in omnibus funding bill", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Provision would prevent schools, USDA from buying poultry processed in China for nutrition programs An amendment introduced by Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and cosponsored by Chellie Pingree that would ban the purchase of chicken raised in the US and processed in China for school lunches is heading to the President's desk for signature. The bill passed the House of Representatives last Thursday and the Senate late Saturday night. DeLauro and Pingree, both members of the House Appropriations Committee, successfully added their provision to abill funding the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) earlier this year.Congressional leaders then included the provision in the omnibus spending bill that funds the federal government that was passed over the weekend. Banning Chinese chicken from school meals is a common-sense step to protect our kids, DeLauro said. China's food safety record is atrocious, yet last year USDA deemed poultry processed in China to be as safe as poultry processed here. Children are among the most susceptible to foodborne illness. We cannot take unnecessary risks with their health. \"Chinese chicken does not belong in school lunches,\" Pingree said. \"China has such serious food safety problems that even Chinese consumers don't feel safe eating some of the food that is processedthere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-supports-government-funding-bill", "King Supports Government Funding Bill", "2014-12-13", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Supports Government Funding Bill\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSaturday, December 13, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, the U.S. Senate passed the 2015 Omnibus Federal Appropriations bill, which funds the government through September 30, 2015 and includes funding for several priorities benefiting Maine.\r\n\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt that there isn\u2019t a perfect bill, but there are some important provisions in this one \u2013 particularly for Maine,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cNot only does this bill fully fund the Department of Defense, including shipbuilding priorities at Bath Iron Works, but it also invests in transportation infrastructure projects, early childhood education programs, housing assistance for low-income families and homeless veterans, and renewable and clean energy initiatives, among many other important priorities that will make a big difference in the lives of Mainers. And importantly, this bill is true appropriations legislation, not the continuing resolutions that have created economic instability and worried investors in the past. This bill will fund the government through next year, instilling the type of certainty that our economy needs.\u201d\r\nThe appropriations bill funds more than $3 billion for the U.S. Navy destroyer programs, including $2.66 billion for two Arleigh Burke-class DDG-51 destroyers, one of which will be built at Bath Iron Works, and $419 million for construction of the DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers. It includes a provision authored by Senator Susan Collins requiring that all fresh fruits and vegetables \u2013 including fresh white potatoes \u2013 be included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, and it also fully funds the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program to aid workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages decrease as a result of increased imports.\r\nThe bill also includes funding to repair America\u2019s deteriorating infrastructure network, including $500 million for DOT TIGER grants to state and local governments; increases investments in Pell Grant funding and child care subsidies to working parents; upholds a commitment to early childhood education programs, like Head Start; maintains robust funding for housing assistance for low-incomes families and veterans; and continues investment in weatherization and energy-efficiency programs. For a comprehensive summary of the FY15 Omnibus Appropriations bill, click HERE.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/biw-wins-21-million-contract-ddg51-work", "BIW wins $21 million contract for DDG51 work", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said tonight that Bath Iron Works has won a $21 million deal to extend its work on construction of DDG 51 destroyers. Bath Iron Works is the lead designer of the current run of DDG 51s and the contract will allow them to provide engineering and support work for the \"follow\" shipyardthe Ingalls Shipyard in Pascogoula, Mississippi. \"This is a great example of the phrase 'Bath built is best built,'\" Pingree said. \"BIW has done a great job as the lead shipbuilder on this contract, and it makes sense they get this additional contract to provide this kind of technical service to the other yard building these ships.\" The contract for $21,192,127 is technically a modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise options for DDG 51 construction", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-gets-funding-new-school-pleasant-point-reservation", "Pingree gets funding for new school at Pleasant Point Reservation", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Up to $20 million in funding will fully pay for construction of school to replace aging Beatrice Rafferty School\n\n\t  Congresswoman Pingree with Beatrice Rafferty School Principal Michael Chadwick and Congresswoman Betty McCollum earlier this year.\n\n\tRepresentative Chellie Pingree, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said the \"Omnibus\" spending bill that passed the House late last night contains up to $20 million to fully fund the construction of a new a new K-8 school on the Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point Indian Reservation to replace the Beatrice Rafferty School. The school is a U.S. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) funded school and serves approximately 125 students. There are 183 such schools around the country, mostly on Indian reservations.\n\n\tPingree, who is on the Appropriations subcommittee that sets the budget for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has pushed for funding for the school. Pingree visited the school earlier this year with Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the top Democrat on the subcommittee. In the spending bill up for a vote this week, the Pleasant Point school was the only one in the United States to get construction funding in the Bureau's budget. \"The school has been targeted for replacement for a decade. It's in terrible shape with mold and weakened walls,\" Pingree said. \"That's a bad learning environment and it's time to replace it. This funding will allow the community to build a new school that will last for generations to come.\" A spending bill passed earlier this year included funding for planning and design of the new school. The bill that passed the House last night and is expected to pass the Senate by this weekend completes the job by providing full construction funding. Ron Jenkins, Superintendent of Maine Indian Education, said construction could begin as early as April or May and take eighteen months to two years. \"This is the best news I've heard in a long time,\" Jenkins said. \"I know how hard Representative Pingree has worked on this and everyone here really appreciates what she's done for us.\" Pingree is a member of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over this funding. At a hearing last February, Pingree made the case for funding the construction to Kevin Washburn, Assistant Secretary ofIndian Affairs in the Department of the Interior. In her testimony, Pingree said:\n\n\tThe Beatrice Rafferty School in Maine was included on the 2004list of priority construction projects, yet today, nine years later, they are still only in the planning stages, and have yet to receive any funding for design, let alone for construction. In the time they have waited for their funding to come through the school has needed extensive repairs just to ensure that the building remains usable. That means hundreds of thousands of additional dollars have been spent rebuilding walls that have been compromised, replacing a portion of the roof, and conducting ongoing mold inspections to make sure that their extensive mold growth hasn't become too toxic. Every day this continues we are sending the message that it isacceptable to allow 125 kids in Maine to breathe, play, and learn in an extremely dangerous environment. This is simply unconscionable. Given the length of time they have already waited, the uncertainty around sequestration, and recent proposals to zero out funding for new construction, they told me they don't even know if they can be sure the money will come at all. Can I have your assurance that someone will contact the school to confirm the timing and next steps for this funding?", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-collins-hail-passage-of-national-defense-authorization-act", "King, Collins Hail Passage of National Defense Authorization Act", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King, Collins Hail Passage of National Defense Authorization Act\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 12, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 With the strong support of U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins, the Senate today passed the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes more than $3 billion for the U.S. Navy destroyer programs, including $2.66 billion for two Arleigh Burke-class DDG-51 destroyers, one of which will be built at Bath Iron Works, and $419 million for construction of the DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, among many other provisions important to Maine.\r\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King worked to secure the authorizations for these critical defense programs and provisions important to Maine, while as a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins worked to fund them in the Fiscal Year 2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill that passed the House yesterday and is expected to pass the Senate in the coming days.\r\n\u201cThis bill achieves one of the most fundamental purposes of the federal government: providing for the common defense. By authorizing funding for the Department of Defense, it allows us to fulfill our obligation to our men and women in uniform and their families, enhance our military force preparedness, and, among many other things, confront new and dangerous threats across the globe like ISIL,\u201d said Senator King, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. \u201cI am particularly pleased that it fully authorizes funding for the DDG-51 and DDG-1000 class ships, which are vital to our Navy\u2019s fleet and helps sustain jobs at Bath Iron Works, along with several other critical provisions that will directly benefit Maine. Maine\u2019s contributions to our national defense are immense, and as we clearly see in this bill, our state will continue to play an important role in safeguarding our national security interests.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe National Defense Authorization Act, realized through a bipartisan and bicameral effort, illustrates the importance that Congress places on our nation\u2019s shipbuilding programs, including Bath Iron Works, which support the Navy in meeting its essential national security commitments around the globe.\u201d said Senator Collins, who is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.\u00a0 \u201cThis legislation contains numerous provisions to ensure our service members have the resources they need to accomplish critical missions overseas in protection of our country and our freedoms.\u00a0 Maine\u2019s contributions to our national security stretch from Kittery to Limestone and affect workers in every one of Maine\u2019s 16 counties.\u00a0 This bill will not only strengthen our military, but also will benefit Maine\u2019s economy and support good-paying jobs.\u201d\r\nProvisions of particular importance to Maine include:\r\n \r\nMore than $3 billion for Navy destroyer programs, including $419 million for the construction of DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, $2.67 billion for the procurement of two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, one of which will be built at Bath as a part of the 5-ship multiyear procurement for Bath that was announced last year, and $134 million for DDG-51 advanced procurement.\r\n$32 million to construct a National Guard/Reserve Center Joint Force Headquarters in Augusta.\r\n$2.7 million for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) to be used for energy conservation projects. PNSY is a nationally recognized leader in energy efficiency and sustainability efforts, projects that Senator King saw firsthand while touring the shipyard last year.\r\nRequires the military to fund its depots\u2019 facilities Capital Investment Program at the levels required by law.\u00a0 PNSY is one of the Navy\u2019s depots that benefits from the funding provided by this program.\r\n$5.82 billion for procurement of 34 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.\u00a0 Components for the F-35 are built at Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in Saco, Hunting Dearborn Inc. in Fryeburg, and Fairchild Semiconductor in South Portland.\r\nRejects calls by the Administration for a new Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round.\r\n$1.6 billion for Navy facility maintenance and modernization, including projects at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery.\u00a0\r\n$387.3 million for military engines that power F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft.\u00a0 Twenty-five percent of the parts for these engines will be built at the Pratt & Whitney plant in Maine.\u00a0 The F100-PW-229 production line would have closed without new orders.\r\n$25.3 million for M2 .50 caliber machine gun modifications performed at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in Saco.\r\n$8.4 million for procurement of the Common Remotely Operated Weapons System (CROWS). Vingtech in Biddeford produce components for the CROWS.\r\n$25 million to support important Civil Air Patrol operations and maintenance nationwide. \u00a0The Civil Air Patrol has nine stations in Maine.\r\n$573 million for research and development for the CH-53K helicopter.\u00a0 Hunting Dearborn in Fryeburg manufactures the rotor shaft for this helicopter.\r\n$75 million in Rapid Innovation Program funding to increase investment in small businesses and developing technologies that benefit DoD.\r\n \r\nThe bill also contains a bipartisan, bicameral package of public land provisions, including legislation introduced by Senator King last year that would authorize a multi-year study of the York River to determine whether it is suitable to be designated as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River. Senator King urged leaders of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to include the bill in the larger lands package. Also included is legislation authored by Senator Collins to create a Commission to evaluate and plan the establishment of a National Women\u2019s History Museum. Since 2003, Senator Collins has led the effort to establish such a museum. The Commission will make recommendations to Congress about the need for and location of a museum and will be paid for entirely with private funds, at no costs to taxpayers.\r\nThe 2015 NDAA authorizes funding for the Department of Defense as well as national security programs under the Department of Energy and is based substantially on two bills: 1) H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, which passed the House of Representatives on May 22nd by a vote of 325-98; and 2) S.2410, which was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee \u2013 with the support of Senator King \u2013 on the same day by a vote of 25-1. The two bills were merged through a series of negotiations led by the leadership of the two committees.\r\nThe legislation provides for the pay and benefits earned by members of the military and their families, provides for national defense \u2013 including the authorization of funds for operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria \u2013 and reflects our national security policies and priorities as a nation. For additional information on the NDAA, click HERE.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-selected-to-serve-on-senate-energy-and-natural-resources-committee", "King Selected to Serve on Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Selected to Serve on Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tCommittee holds jurisdiction over national energy policy\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 12, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced that the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee today assigned him to serve on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources during the 114th Congress. Senator King worked closely with the Senate Democratic Caucus leadership to secure this important appointment for Maine.\r\n\u201cHigh energy costs, particularly in states like Maine, continue to eat away at people\u2019s budgets and often unfairly force them to make the impossible choice between heating their homes, putting food on the table, or paying for medications and other basic necessities,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cServing on this committee will give me the opportunity to fight for Maine\u2019s energy future, work hard to protect its beautiful and abundant natural resources, and encourage a cleaner, more deliberate national energy policy.\u201d\r\nThe Committee has oversight and legislative responsibility for national energy policy, electricity markets, issues regarding pipeline infrastructure, as well as national parks and other federal lands, among other policy areas.\r\nSenator King will also continue to serve Maine on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the Senate Budget Committee, and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.\r\nThe committee assignments are subject to ratification by the caucus and the Senate when the 114th Congress convenes in January.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/this-week-in-washington-senate-report-on-cia-interrogation-practices-mccain-floor-speech", "This Week in Washington: Senate Report on CIA Interrogation Practices, McCain Floor Speech", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This Week in Washington: Senate Report on CIA Interrogation Practices, McCain Floor Speech\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 12, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 As part of his ongoing effort to keep the people of Maine informed of his work in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) recapped this week\u2019s events in the nation\u2019s capital. This week, Senator King discussed the release of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report regarding the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Detention and Interrogation Program, and highlighted the speech offered by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) following the release of the report. Senator McCain, a veteran of the Vietnam War, was captured and held captive for more than 5 years, during which time he was tortured repeatedly. During his remarks, Senator McCain spoke about how the actions identified in the report are inconsistent with American ideals. Senator King ends his weekly recap with Senator McCain\u2019s remarks, in their entirety.\r\nYou can watch Senator King\u2019s complete recap, including Senator McCain\u2019s complete floor speech, below. A broadcast quality version is available for download\u00a0here.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/congress-passes-king-amendment-to-reduce-administrative-costs-in-intelligence-community", "Congress Passes King Amendment to Reduce Administrative Costs in Intelligence Community", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congress Passes King Amendment to Reduce Administrative Costs in Intelligence Community\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last night, Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2015 Intelligence Authorization Act including an amendment authored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, requiring the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to report to Congress on the Intelligence Community\u2019s efforts to reduce administrative costs. The measure passed the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, the House of Representatives last night, and now heads to the President\u2019s desk for his signature to become law.\r\n\u201cThe government, including the Intelligence Community, should always strive to use taxpayer dollars in an efficient and effective way,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAnd when you consider that most of the Intelligence Community\u2019s budget is classified out of necessity, it is critical that the Director of National Intelligence report to Congress on expenditures and allocations to ensure that taxpayer money is being spent wisely.\u201d\r\nSenator King\u2019s amendment would require the DNI to submit to the Congressional Intelligence Committees a report with a description of the status and effectiveness of efforts to:\r\n \r\nDevise alternatives to government travel and promote efficient travel spending\r\nLimit costs related to hosting and attending conferences\r\nAssess information technology inventories and usage, and establish controls, to reduce costs related to underutilized information technology equipment, software, or services\r\nImprove the performance of Federal fleet motor vehicles and limit executive transportation\r\nLimit the purchase of extraneous promotions items, such as plaques, clothing, and commemorative items, and;\r\nConsolidate and streamline workforce training programs to focus on the highest priority workforce and mission needs\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/federal-funding-bill-supports-maines-defense-industry-and-jobs", "Federal Funding Bill Supports Maine’s Defense Industry and Jobs", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Federal Funding Bill Supports Maine\u2019s Defense Industry and Jobs\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 With the support of U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, the Senate and House Appropriations Committees have reached an agreement on the Fiscal Year 2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill that provides $554 billion in funds for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the national security programs of the Department of Energy (DoE).\u00a0 The bill includes more than $3 billion for the U.S. Navy destroyer programs, including $2.66 billion for two Arleigh Burke-class DDG-51 destroyers, one of which will be built at Bath Iron Works, and $419 million for construction of the DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers.\u00a0 The bill also included funding for many other investments in Maine.\r\n\u201cI am pleased that this bill will continue to fully fund the DDG-51 and DDG-1000 programs which are essential to the future of our surface fleet and the jobs for the hard-working shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works,\u201d said Senator Collins who is a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee that drafted the bill.\u00a0 \u201cThe renewed focus in the Asia-Pacific region as an area of the highest strategic interest, as well as instability in other areas of the world, require the maintenance and growth of a strong Navy fleet.\u201d\r\n\u201cThousands of Mainers, like those at BIW, work hard day in and day out to support our country\u2019s national security and defense mission,\u201d said Senator King, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. \u201cThis bill is a continued investment in their work as well as a recognition that they will play a fundamental role as our armed forces confront threats across the globe and protect our interests at home.\u201d\r\nAs a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins worked to fund, and as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King worked to authorize funding for, these critical defense programs and other provisions important to Maine:\r\n \r\n$6 billion for procurement of 38 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.\u00a0 Components for the F-35 are built at Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in Saco, Hunting Dearborn Inc. in Fryeburg, and Fairchild Semiconductor in South Portland.\r\n \r\n \r\nThe bill eliminates funding for the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round proposed by the Obama Administration.\r\n \r\n \r\nThe bill includes $1.6 billion for Navy facility maintenance and modernization, including projects at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery.\u00a0 This funding is $148 million more than the President\u2019s budget request.\r\n \r\n \r\nThe report accompanying the bill also includes language proposed by Senator Collins to ensure the Navy funds the capital investment for the Navy\u2019s four public shipyards, including Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, at the level required by law.\u00a0\r\n \r\n \r\n$498 million for military engines that power F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft, which is $111 million more than the President's budget request.\u00a0 Twenty-five percent of the parts for these engines will be built at the Pratt & Whitney plant in Maine.\u00a0 The F100-PW-229 production line would have closed without new orders.\r\n \r\n \r\nNeither the bill nor the report includes an unnecessary and costly study of an extra engine for the F-35 fighter, which would have competed with the existing engine produced by Pratt & Whitney.\r\n \r\n \r\n$25.3 million for M2 .50 caliber machine gun modifications performed at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in Saco.\r\n \r\n \r\n$13.4 million for procurement of the Common Remotely Operated Weapons System (CROWS). Vingtech in Biddeford produce components for the CROWS.\r\n \r\n \r\n$27.4 million to support important Civil Air Patrol operations and maintenance nationwide, which is $2.4 million more than the President's budget request. The Civil Air Patrol has nine stations in Maine.\r\n \r\n \r\n$560 million for research and development for the CH-53K helicopter.\u00a0 Hunting Dearborn in Fryeburg manufactures the rotor shaft for this helicopter.\r\n \r\n \r\n$225 million in Rapid Innovation Program funding to increase investment in small businesses and developing technologies that benefit DoD.\r\n \r\nThe Fiscal Year 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Bill is being considered by the House of Representatives before it can be sent to the Senate and signed into law by the President.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-applauds-fcc-decision-to-modernize-e-rate-program", "King Applauds FCC Decision to Modernize E-Rate Program", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Applauds FCC Decision to Modernize E-Rate Program\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) praised the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) vote to modernize the Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries, more commonly known as E-Rate. The FCC approved the second phase of an effort to close the rural connectivity gap and boost high-speed Internet access at schools and libraries across America.\r\n\u201cAccess to high-speed broadband is an essential part of ensuring that students in the United States, no matter where they live, have the digital learning tools necessary to compete in today\u2019s global economy,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThe Internet has changed drastically since the creation of the E-Rate program in 1996, and as digital learning becomes more and more important, it\u2019s critical that we modernize and strengthen the E-Rate program to help give our students a chance to succeed. I applaud the FCC\u2019s vote to increase administrative efficiency and address the long term sustainability of the program. By putting in place E-rate 2.0, the FCC has taken a pivotal step to move us closer to bringing high-speed broadband to every school, classroom, and library in America.\u201d\r\nIn an online op-ed in Roll Call yesterday, Senator King and FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel urged the FCC to move forward with modernizing the E-Rate program, and in June, he signed onto a bipartisan letter with Senators Michael Bennet (D-Co.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) pressing FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to do the same.\r\nE-Rate, the nation\u2019s largest education technology program, provides federal funding to schools and libraries to support access to modern communications and the Internet. The program was established by the 1996 Telecommunications Act, a bipartisan effort lead by then-U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) and then-Congressman, now U.S. Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.).\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-warner-usher-regulatory-relief-for-community-banks-credit-unions-through-senate", "King, Warner Usher Regulatory Relief for Community Banks, Credit Unions Through Senate", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King, Warner Usher Regulatory Relief for Community Banks, Credit Unions Through Senate\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the United States Senate unanimously passed two provisions authored by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) to help relieve America\u2019s small financial institutions, like community banks and credits unions, of regulatory burdens so that they are better able to serve their communities.\r\n\u201cSmall banks and credit unions are often the financial cornerstones of communities across the country, providing the very credit that helps drive our economy each and every day,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cBut while these smaller institutions played no part in causing the financial crisis in 2008, they have often been forced to shoulder the burden of too many poorly-tailored regulations intended to prevent the next one. These provisions will lift some of those onerous requirements and provide parity for accounts between community banks and credit unions, all of which will help smaller lending institutions better serve the communities that rely upon them.\u201d\r\n\u201cCommunity banks and credit unions are the backbone of the U.S. economy.\u00a0 According to the FDIC, small banks hold 14% of the nation\u2019s banking assets and make nearly half of all of the smaller loans to farms and small businesses.\u00a0 That is why I am so pleased to get final passage on our proposals to reduce regulatory burdens on smaller institutions and create parity for certain accounts between community banks and credit unions. This allows community-based financial institutions to do what they do best: support our local economies,\u201d said Senator Warner.\r\nThe two provisions, authored by Senators King and Warner, had also been introduced as part of the RELIEVE Act earlier this year. A description of each is below:\r\n \r\nThe community bank relief bill allows small bank holding companies with under $1 billion in assets to be regulated under the Small Bank Holding Company Statement (SBHCS), which allows simplified reporting requirements and less stringent capital standards that reflect the traditional banking services that these smaller banks provide. The current SBHCS applies only to institutions below $500 million in assets.\u00a0 The change will reduce regulatory burdens for 89 percent of bank holding companies, up from 75 percent today.\u00a0This policy change is supported by the Federal Reserve, with Federal Reserve Governor Daniel Tarullo calling on Congress to boost the SBHCS to $1 billion in speech in November. It has also been endorsed by the Independent Community Bankers of America and the American Bankers Association.\r\n \r\n \r\nCurrently, interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTAs) at banks are able to receive FDIC insurance on deposits; similar accounts at credit unions are not insured.\u00a0 This bill provides credit unions parity with FDIC-insured institutions when it comes to deposit insurance coverage on IOLTAs and other escrow accounts.\u00a0 A similar version of this language passed the House by voice vote in May 2014 and has been endorsed by the Credit Union National Association; the National Association of Federal Credit Unions; and the American Bar Association.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-speaks-crowd-hundreds-gathered-oppose-ban-gmo-labeling", "Pingree speaks to crowd of hundreds gathered to oppose ban on GMO labeling", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bill would block laws in Maine and other states requiring labels on food containing GMOs\n\n\tCongresswoman Chellie Pingree spoke to hundreds of people from around the country who gathered in Washington today to oppose a bill that would ban GMO labeling laws. \"You are here representing the 90% of American people who wantto know what's in their food,\" Pingree said. \"Thank you for making your voices heard.\" A bill being called the Deny Americans the Right-to-Know or DARK Act had a hearing today in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill would prevent states like Maine from requiring the labeling of foods containing GMO ingredients. The Maine law, passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor LePage this year, would require labeling when five nearby states also adopt similar requirements. Currently 64 other countries around the world require labeling of GMO food. Polling shows nearly all Americans support a similar requirement, but large corporations, like Monsanto, that produce GMOs have fought labeling laws and support the bill now in the House. Dozens of Maine people were set to travel to the rally by bus, but the trip was canceled due to weather.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-148-million-grant-to-expand-preschool-services-in-maine", "Collins, King Announce $14.8 Million Grant to Expand Preschool Services in Maine", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Announce $14.8 Million Grant to Expand Preschool Services in Maine\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 10, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Maine Department of Education will receive a four-year, $14.8 million federal grant that will allow 13 school districts in the state to create or expand on existing preschool programs.\r\n\u201cEarly childhood education is an investment in Maine\u2019s future,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cWe are thrilled the Department of Education has recognized Maine\u2019s efforts to move toward universal voluntary pre-K, and know these funds will substantially increase the availability and impact of preschool programs across our state.\u201d\r\nMaine is one of just 18 states receiving a competitive award through the new Preschool Development Grants Program, a joint initiative from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Thirty six states applied for this inaugural round of Preschool Development Grants. The awards nationwide total more than $226 million. Maine will receive $3,497,319 in the first year of the grant.\r\nThe Preschool Development Grants Program supports state efforts to create or enhance preschool programs in high-need communities, while building or improving infrastructure to better deliver preschool services. President Obama announced the initiative in August of 2014. Grant awards are divided into two principal categories: development and expansion. Development grants are awarded to states with small or no state-funded preschool programs. States with more robust preschool programs are awarded expansion grants. Maine is one of 13 states receiving an expansion grant.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-hail-full-funding-for-trade-adjustment-assistance-program-in-proposed-funding-bill", "Collins, King Hail Full Funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance Program in Proposed Funding Bill", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Hail Full Funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance Program in Proposed Funding Bill\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tWorkers displaced at Verso Bucksport Mill, UTC Pittsfield qualified for TAA assistance\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 10, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S Senator Angus King today announced that the funding bill agreement, which will fund the government through Fiscal Year 2015, includes full funding of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. This will maintain benefits for all workers currently covered by TAA, including those at UTC Pittsfield and the Verso mill in Bucksport, as well as those certified in FY15.\u00a0\r\nThe purpose of the TAA program is to aid workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages decrease as a result of increased imports. Those eligible for TAA assistance can be eligible for employment training in another job or career, income support, job search allowances, and relocation services for obtaining jobs outside of their normal commuting area. The proposed legislation provides $710.6 million for TAA, which is $54.6 million more than FY14, and the level recommended by the Senate.\u00a0\r\nIn November, Senators Collins and King sent a letter to leaders on the Senate Appropriations Committee urging for the full funding of this critical program.\r\n\u201cThis program has been especially helpful to Maine workers in key trade-affected industries who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, including individuals in Maine\u2019s lobster, blueberry, and pulp and paper industries.\u00a0 Just this week, the U.S. Department of Labor approved TAA for the more than 500 workers who learned last month that they will lose their jobs when Verso Paper closes its mill in Bucksport, Maine, in December,\u201d the Senators wrote in their November 19 letter.\u00a0 \u201cTAA Assistance will be critical to these workers as they pursue alternative job opportunities.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-hails-inclusion-of-white-potatoes-in-wic-program", "King Hails Inclusion of White Potatoes in WIC Program", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Hails Inclusion of White Potatoes in WIC Program\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 10, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today praised the successful inclusion of a provision by Senator Susan Collins in the Fiscal Year 2015 federal appropriations bill that will require all fresh fruits and vegetables \u2013 including fresh white potatoes \u2013 be included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.\r\n\u201cWith the enactment of this bill, low-income families will finally have access to yet another healthy and inexpensive food option,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled Senator Collins successfully secured this provision, which will finally fix what has all along been considered a misguided policy based on outdated science.\u201d\r\nThe provision would allow all fresh vegetables, including the fresh white potato, to be included in the WIC program immediately upon enactment of the bill. Fresh white potatoes are currently the only fresh fruit or vegetable excluded from the approved WIC food package.\r\nPotatoes' exclusion from the U.S. Department of Agriculture rule went into effect in December 2009 and is based on recommendations of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans report, which uses nearly 20-year old consumption data. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, however, recommends five to six cups of these vegetables per week for women with a daily caloric intake of 1,800 to 2,400 calories \u2013 an increase of two to three cups per week from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.\r\nLast year, Senator King co-sponsored an amendment with Senator Collins to the Senate Farm Bill which would have included white potatoes in the WIC program, and in October 2013, Senator King wrote a letter to Senators Debbie Stabenow and Thad Cochran, Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, respectively, outlining several farming and food issues of particular importance to Maine, including that all white potatoes be included in the WIC program.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-praises-senate-progress-towards-relieving-regulatory-burdens-on-maine-fishermen-vessel-operators", "King Praises Senate Progress Towards Relieving Regulatory Burdens on Maine Fishermen, Vessel Operators", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Praises Senate Progress Towards Relieving Regulatory Burdens on Maine Fishermen, Vessel Operators\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 10, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the U.S. Senate passed a provision supported by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that averts an impending onerous permitting requirement for Maine fishermen, recreational boaters, and on-water researchers to operate their vessels. The provision was included in legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Coast Guard that passed the Senate today and is expected to pass the House later this week. Specifically, the provision secured for an additional three years the continued exemption for small vessel owners from needing to apply for permits for the incidental discharge of water off their boats.\r\n\u201cThis provision is all about commonsense government. Maine\u2019s fishermen have enough to worry about without having to go to the EPA to get a permit just to do things like wash down their boats at the end of the day,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m pleased the Senate recognized the shortsightedness of these regulations and moved to stave them off for another few years. I will continue to fight alongside my colleagues in the next Congress to see that we permanently fix this issue and give our fishermen and recreational boaters a better sense of certainty.\u201d\r\nIn 1973, when the EPA first implemented the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) pursuant to section 402 of the Clean Water Act, the Agency categorically exempted vessels from the prohibitions and permitting requirements of NPDES.\r\nThis exemption remained in place until 2005, when the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a federal district court ruling that the EPA's 32-year-old regulatory exemption was beyond the Agency's scope of authority under the Clean Water Act. The ruling took away the EPA\u2019s ability to exempt small vessel owners from needing to acquire permits to dispense of water incidental to their normal operation back into the ocean.\r\nThe requirement to get an EPA permit was to take effect on December 19th, 2014, but the provision passed today would reinstate that exemption, fixing an issue which has concerned small vessel operators and the EPA since the 2005 circuit court ruling.\r\nConsequently, incidental discharges by vessels less than 79 feet in length engaged in commercial service, fishing vessels, and recreational vessels, as well as discharges that occur for research, safety, or similar purposes will not be subject to the permitting requirements of NPDES.\r\nThe provision is in line with legislation \u2013 the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act of 2013 \u2013 cosponsored by Senator King that would a establish uniform national standard governing ballast water discharges and permanently fix the incidental discharge permitting issue\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-cia-torture-report", "Statement on CIA torture report", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement in response to a report on CIA torture released today by the Senate Intelligence Committee. \"This is a brutal report that represents a dark side of the CIA and describes actions that do not reflect American values. Not only were these techniques wrong, the report shows they were not the most effective way to gather intelligence. It is also disturbing to see that the CIA was misleading and dishonest with Congress about their use of torture and even went so far as to break into the computers of the Senate Intelligence Committee to prevent the release of this information.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-releases-additional-views-on-intelligence-committee-report-on-cia-detention-and-interrogation-program", "King Releases Additional Views on Intelligence Committee Report on CIA Detention and Interrogation Program", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Releases Additional Views on Intelligence Committee Report on CIA Detention and Interrogation Program\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 9, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Following the declassification of the Findings & Conclusions and Executive Summary of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report regarding the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Detention and Interrogation Program, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement, which he also filed as Additional Views to the report:\r\n\u201cI joined the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in January 2013, approximately four years after President Obama issued an Executive Order to end the detention and interrogation program of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).\u00a0 As such, I was not involved in the inception and initial stages of the committee\u2019s review of the program.\u00a0 After carefully reading the study\u2019s lengthy executive summary, the CIA\u2019s response, and other relevant documents, it is clear to me that some detainees were subjected to techniques that constituted torture.\u00a0 Such brutality is unacceptable, and the misconduct on the part of some of the individuals involved in the use of enhanced interrogation techniques, which is documented in the study, is inexplicable. \u00a0Based upon this review, it appears to me that the enhanced interrogation techniques were not effective in producing the type of unique and reliable information claimed by the agency\u2019s leadership, and should never again be employed by our government.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIn the course of conducting vigorous oversight with respect to this program, it is also important to bear in mind several points.\u00a0 First, in the wake of the September 2001 attacks, our government was inundated with endless leads to track down.\u00a0 There was genuine fear and uncertainty about follow-on strikes, which may explain, but not excuse, the actions that are the subject of this study.\u00a0 Second, we live in a dangerous world with all-to-real enemies and I believe firmly that intelligence is our nation\u2019s first line of defense against terrorism.\u00a0 As such, the CIA and other intelligence agencies are vital to keeping us safe and the disturbing nature of the study\u2019s findings should not be used to undermine our overall intelligence enterprise.\u00a0 Lastly, it should be understood that those responsible for the mismanagement and misconduct associated with the detention and interrogation program are not representative of the many dedicated professionals serving our nation, often in anonymity, at the CIA.\u00a0 Having met with many CIA officers, I have great respect for their intellect, dedication, courage, and sacrifice.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDespite the unquestionable professionalism of the vast majority of CIA personnel, the study demonstrates that the detention and interrogation program was mismanaged, that some within the leadership of the CIA actively impeded congressional oversight, and that agency officials misrepresented the program\u2019s effectiveness.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe study finds that CIA headquarters failed to keep accurate records on those it detained and placed individuals with limited experience in senior detention and interrogation roles.\u00a0 Even after a detainee died of hypothermia at a detention facility in November 2002, many of these practices continued without adequate oversight.\u00a0 In its response to the study, the CIA states that delegating management of this particular facility to a junior officer \u201cwas not a prudent managerial decision given the risks inherent in the program.\u201d\u00a0 It is difficult to imagine a greater understatement of what occurred.\u00a0 More accurately, in the words of one of the CIA\u2019s senior interrogators, the program was \u201ca train wreak [sic] waiting to happen.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOf the many examples of impeding congressional oversight documented in the study, none is more striking than the decision by CIA leaders to destroy videotapes of CIA interrogations out of a concern that Congress might discover evidence of misconduct and brutality.\u00a0 There is no excuse for this decision and those involved should no longer be associated with the CIA or the United States government.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMost significantly, the study finds that the CIA\u2019s justification for the use of enhanced interrogation techniques rested on inaccurate claims of their effectiveness.\u00a0 In its official response to the study, the CIA contradicts many of its previous claims of unqualified effectiveness by arguing that it is now \u201cunknowable\u201d whether the same information could have been acquired without the use of enhanced interrogation techniques and further contends that its past assertions were \u201csincerely believed but inherently speculative.\u201d\u00a0 Yet in the long and unfortunate history of this program, no one in the CIA\u2019s leadership expressed such an equivocal view of the techniques\u2019 effectiveness.\u00a0 What was once certain is now \u201cunknowable;\u201d this migration of rationales underlines for me the magnitude of the prior misrepresentations.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI have to assume that in many cases the representations of effectiveness were believed by the individuals who made them.\u00a0 However, the CIA also admits in its response that it never attempted to develop a \u201cmore sustained, systematic, and independent means by which to evaluate the effectiveness of the approaches used with detainees.\u201d\u00a0 It states further that its reviews of the program\u2019s effectiveness were \u201cheavily reliant on the views of the practitioners\u201d \u2013 including the contract psychologists who designed and executed the techniques.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIf such a sustained, systematic, and independent evaluation was impractical, as the CIA now claims, then it follows that the CIA\u2019s assertions about the effectiveness of such techniques were largely guesswork.\u00a0 In the end, policymakers based their decisions about a program so at variance with our past practices and values on anecdotal information, rather than on a verifiable process. \u00a0This, in my opinion, is among the seminal failings of the program and the CIA\u2019s leadership during this period.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFinally, I am deeply disturbed by the implications of the study for the committee\u2019s ability to discharge its oversight responsibility.\u00a0 The core of the oversight function rests in large part upon the interaction of our committee with representatives of the various intelligence agencies, most particularly the CIA.\u00a0 Because it appears from the study that the committee was continuously misled as to virtually all aspects of this program, it naturally raises the extremely troubling question as to whether we can trust the representations of the agency in connection with difficult or sensitive issues in the future.\u00a0 If our principal oversight approach is based on frank and open communication with the CIA\u2019s leadership, and we cannot fully rely upon the answers we receive, then the entire oversight function is compromised.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAs a committee, we should discuss this matter to determine if additional steps may be necessary to ensure that we are getting accurate information.\u00a0 I believe that our solemn responsibility to provide vigilant legislative oversight over the intelligence activities of the United States requires serious consideration of this problem.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI agree with my colleagues in the minority who note that the Department of Justice\u2019s decision to begin a criminal investigation in 2009 prevented the committee from conducting most interviews and required the study to rely mainly on documents provided by the CIA.\u00a0 I am also disappointed that the study could not utilize the expertise of the minority through a joint review, as has been the committee\u2019s practice.\u00a0 While I believe the study is accurate, this is a fundamental lesson that will inform my approach to the committee\u2019s work in the years ahead.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIn conclusion, upon joining the committee in 2013 I endeavored to undertake a thorough review of the study, the CIA\u2019s response, and other relevant documentation.\u00a0 I also discussed this matter with Democrats and Republicans on the committee, the staff members involved in writing the study and the minority staff, the CIA personnel who drafted the agency\u2019s response, a former senior military interrogator, current CIA officers bravely serving our nation in harm\u2019s way, a former top FBI official, and numerous Maine people \u2013 including human rights experts and leaders of the religious community.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBased on this review, I voted to approve declassification of the study because I believe our nation\u2019s reputation as a beacon of openness, democratic values, human rights, and adherence to the rule of law is at stake.\u00a0 Our credibility \u2013 and ultimately our influence \u2013 in the world is dependent upon this reputation, and it is our obligation to admit when we fail to meet America\u2019s high standards.\u00a0 I believe we can protect intelligence sources and methods and still declassify a significant portion of the study to accomplish this goal.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAs then Secretary of State Colin Powell said in 2004, following the scandals at Abu Ghraib prison,\r\n\u2018Watch America.\u00a0 Watch how we deal with this.\u00a0 Watch how America will do the right thing.\u00a0 Watch what a nation of values and character, a nation that believes in justice, does to right this kind of wrong.\u00a0 Watch how a nation such as ours will not tolerate such actions.\u2019\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIn the last analysis, America\u2019s real power is based upon our values and how we put those values into practice.\u00a0 As with any individual \u2013 or great nation \u2013 we will occasionally stumble, but when we do, we acknowledge our failings \u2013 as we have in this case \u2013 and move on, true to ourselves and to the better angels of our nature.\u201d\r\nOn April 4, 2014, Senator King voted in favor of declassifying the Findings & Conclusions and Executive Summary of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report regarding the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Detention and Interrogation Program.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/27-maine-students-nominated-united-states-service-academies", "27 Maine students nominated to United States Service Academies", "2014-12-08", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree has announced her office's nominees to the United States Service Academiesthe U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress. This group of students represents some of Maine's best and brightest. They have all demonstrated exceptional leadership, high academic standards, and a passion for helping others, said Pingree. Whatever happens from here, they should all be proud of themselves. We are lucky that they have chosen to offer their talents in service to the country, and it's an honor to nominate them. The nominees were interviewed by a panel of six on their academic record, test scores, leadership ability, involvement in extra-curricular activities, and exemplified commitment to serving their country. Pingree nominated several students to more than one academy.\n\n\tUnited States Naval Academy  \n\tMary Coyne, Yarmouth, Yarmouth High School  \n\tChris deWolf, Falmouth, Falmouth High School  \n\tJulia Ginder, Cape Elizabeth, Cape Elizabeth High School  \n\tAbigail Goodrich, York, Cheverus High School  \n\tNathan Howard, Scarborough, Scarborough High School  \n\tEric Kousky, Brunswick, Brunswick High School  \n\tJoseph Lobley, Waldoboro, Medomak Valley High School  \n\tNoah Seely, Cumberland, Naval Academy Preparatory School, Governor's Academy (prior)  \n\tCatherine Sener, Bath, Morse High School  \n\tKohl Valle, Falmouth, Falmouth High School United States Military Academy  \n\tCatherine Call, Scarborough, Scarborough High School  \n\tJacob Connors, Kennebunk, Kennebunk High School  \n\tHarry Crosby, Cumberland Foreside, Hargrave Military Academy  \n\tGavin Felch, Union, Medomak Valley High School  \n\tAbigail Goodrich, York, Cheverus High School  \n\tEric Kousky, Brunswick, Brunswick High School  \n\tEmily Mitchell, York, University of New England, York High School (prior)  \n\tRyan Mucci, Portland, Falmouth High School  \n\tRoss Poulin, Winslow, Winslow High School  \n\tKeegan Thomas, Standish, Cheverus High School  \n\tKohl Valle, Falmouth, Falmouth High School United States Air Force Academy  \n\tAlex Denis, Topsham, Florida Institute ofTechnology, Mt. Ararat High School (prior)  \n\tChris deWolf, Falmouth, Falmouth High School  \n\tAbraham Eaton, Gorham, home-schooled  \n\tGavin Felch, Union, Medomak Valley High School  \n\tMark Hayes, Parsonsfield, Air Force Academy Prep School, Sacopee Valley High School (prior)  \n\tConnor Hoehle, Yarmouth, Yarmouth High School  \n\tEric Kousky, Brunswick, Brunswick High School  \n\tPatrick O'Hanlon, Falmouth, Northwestern Preparatory School, Cheverus High School (prior)  \n\tSarah Tewksbury, South Berwick, University of Southern Maine, York High School (prior)  \n\tKohl Valle, Falmouth, Falmouth High School United States Merchant Marine Academy  \n\tBenjamin Ambrose, Bowdoinham, North Yarmouth Academy  \n\tTristan DeYoung, Scarborough, ScarboroughHigh School  \n\tConnor Hoehle, Yarmouth, Yarmouth High School  \n\tMeredith Willard, South Portland, New Mexico Military Institute, Cheverus High School (prior)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-honor-military-service-members-at-us-capitol-wreath-laying-", "Collins, King Honor Military Service-Members at U.S. Capitol Wreath Laying", "2014-12-08", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Honor Military Service-Members at U.S. Capitol Wreath Laying \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 8, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the foot of the U.S. Capitol in honor of America\u2019s military service members and their families who are separated during the holiday season. The event was led by the Maine State Society in conjunction with Wreaths Across America and the wreath will remain on display throughout the holidays. Both Senators delivered brief remarks during the ceremony.\r\n\u201cSince its inception 23 years ago, the Wreaths Across America project has become an annual tradition of placing Maine balsam fir remembrance wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cWreaths Across America honors our departed heroes, but it does even more. It tells the Veterans still with us that we honor their service. It tells our men and women in uniform today that we are grateful for their courage and devotion to duty. It tells the families of those serving our country that they are in our thoughts and prayers. And it tells the families of the fallen that we share their grief.\u201d\r\n\u201cI was honored and delighted to share in this moment and reflect on the service and sacrifice of our nation\u2019s veterans, our active duty service-members, and of course, their families,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThis weekend, thanks to Wreaths Across America, more than 230,000 wreaths will be laid at Arlington National Cemetery in memory of our fallen heroes. Not only is that a tremendous tribute to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but it\u2019s also an amazing accomplishment that should make Maine and the nation proud.\u201d\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-commemorates-73rd-anniversary-of-attack-on-pearl-harbor", "King Commemorates 73rd Anniversary of Attack on Pearl Harbor", "2014-12-08", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Commemorates 73rd Anniversary of Attack on Pearl Harbor\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 8, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPORTLAND, ME \u2013 Today, on the 73rd anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with AMVETS Department of Maine at Fort Allen Park on Portland\u2019s Eastern Promenade to remember the more than 2,400 American service-members and civilians who lost their lives as well as those who survived.\r\n\u201cToday, we pause to remember and reflect on the service and sacrifice of the more than 2,400 souls who perished on that fateful day 73 years ago,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cWe join with their families in mourning their loss and celebrating their lives, and we pay tribute to those who survived that defining moment in American history and who went forward to fight for and preserve the freedom that we cherish today. Through this recognition, let us recommit ourselves to the ideals for which they so nobly fought and let us stand beside them and every man and woman who wears the uniform in service to our nation.\u201d\r\nAlso attending the ceremony was Jim Watson of South Portland, a Navy veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor. Watson was on USS Phoenix when Japanese planes attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet on December 7th, 1941.\r\nAMVETS Department of Maine have organized the annual Pearl Harbor Day remembrance service in Portland for 47 years.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/educate-maine-recognizes-king-for-leadership-in-education", "Educate Maine Recognizes King for Leadership in Education", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Educate Maine Recognizes King for Leadership in Education\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 5, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPORTLAND, ME \u2013 Today, Educate Maine presented U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) with its Weston L. Bonney Education Leadership Award during the 3rd annual \u201cPipeline to Prosperity\u201d Symposium and 17th annual Education Leadership Luncheon. The award, named in honor of former Maine State Board of Education member and business leader Weston Bonney, recognizes those who have demonstrated \u201ccommitment, vision and courage in support of Maine students.\u201d\r\n\u201cEnsuring that every generation has access to a quality, affordable education should be one of our highest priorities in this country,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cAn investment in education is an investment in our children and their future, which will put us on a path to long-term economic prosperity by empowering them with the tools and skills needed to compete in the global marketplace. I am grateful for this recognition and pledge to continue to fight alongside organizations like Educate Maine that are committed to helping advance the interests of America\u2019s students.\u201d\r\nSenator King has been actively engaged in education issues as a member of Congress. In August of 2013, he played a leading role in organizing a bipartisan group of senators to craft the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act, legislation that overwhelmingly passed the Senate and House and successfully prevented student loan interest rates from doubling. Senator King, along with Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.), has recently led the charge in trying to simplify the student loan repayment system, introducing the Repay Act which would make loan repayment more affordable for the middle class by eliminating duplicative repayment options, streamlining eligibility terms, and ensuring that borrowers who enroll in income-based repayment will never direct more than 15 percent of their discretionary income to their loan payments.\r\nEducate Maine is a business-led organization driven by the belief that education is the key to individual advancement, an engaged citizenry, and sustainable economic growth. The group strives to help prepare Maine students for college and career life, while increasing access to high quality educational opportunities. Educate Maine was created in 2011 when the Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education and the Maine Compact for Higher Education merged.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-defense-secretary-nomination", "King Statement on Defense Secretary Nomination", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Statement on Defense Secretary Nomination\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 5, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPORTLAND, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today in response to the President\u2019s nomination of Ashton Carter to replace Chuck Hagel as U.S. Secretary of Defense:\r\n\u201cI applaud the President for moving quickly to fill this crucial position, particularly at such an important time when bold leadership from the United States is necessary to help confront many of the growing threats across the globe,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cDuring my time in office, I have both met and worked with Ash Carter, and I am impressed with his experience, intellect, and capability. I also know he is well-respected by the military, by his colleagues inside and outside of the Pentagon, and by Members of Congress. I look forward to meeting with him again soon and hearing his testimony during his confirmation hearing before the Armed Services Committee about how he proposes to lead the Department of Defense.\u201d\r\nAshton Carter served as the Deputy Secretary of Defense from 2011 to 2013, and Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics from 2009-2011.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/maine-community-get-help-feds-develop-and-expand-local-agriculture", "Maine community to get help from feds to develop and expand local agriculture", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Town of Unity wins competitive 'Local Foods, Local Places' assistance Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said this week that the Town of Unity has been selected as one of just 26 communities from around the country to participate in a federal initiative called Local Foods, Local Places. The town will receive expert technical advice to help develop and highlight the local agricultural economy. Pingree, a member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Committee, said bringing federal resources to a small town like Unity can go a long way toward growing the local economy. \"Unity and the communities in that area understand how valuable agriculture is to their economy and how local farms can be a good source of food and income,\" Pingree said. \"They've done a lot of work to create a development plan that takes advantage of these resources, but with expert technical assistance they canreally take these plans to the next level.\" The federal designation means the community will get free technical assistance \"to create a more connected, walkable community; better market the community's agricultural character; and create a local food system for the town and surrounding region,\" according to the Obama Administration. In its application, the Town of Unity wrote that \"despite recent efforts the Town has made, this small community can only go so far without expert assistance. The ideas are there; the expertise to create the action plans to implement those ideas isnot.\" A White House announcement is here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-port-of-eastport-accident", "King Statement on Port of Eastport Accident", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Statement on Port of Eastport Accident\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 4, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) issued the following statement today on the failure of the breakwater at the Port of Eastport early this morning:\r\n\u201cThe longer we wait to deal with our failing infrastructure, the more people and local economies are put at risk and that, as we saw today, is unacceptable,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThis morning I called Elaine Abbott, the Acting City Manager of Eastport, and Chris Gardner, the Executive Director of the Eastport Port Authority, and my office will continue to be in touch with the Maine Department of Transportation as well as other local and state officials to see if there may be any federal assistance available to expedite the rehabilitation and replacement of the pier and the breakwater.\u201d\r\nOn September 5, 2013, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $6 million in funding from the 2013 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grant program to support the replacement of the breakwater.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-declares-december-13-2014-wreaths-across-america-day", "Senate Declares December 13, 2014 “Wreaths Across America Day”", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Declares December 13, 2014 \u201cWreaths Across America Day\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 4, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the United States Senate unanimously passed a Resolution they authored and introduced designating Saturday, December 13, 2014 as \u201cWreaths Across America Day.\u201d   \u00a0   On that day, a convoy of Mainers is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery with the goal of laying approximately 230,000 Maine-made balsam wreaths at each grave site of our nation's fallen soldiers and veterans.\u00a0 The Patriot Guard Riders will continue their tradition of escorting tractor-trailers filled with donated wreaths from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery. This is the 23rd consecutive year that Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, will make this generous donation. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, wreaths will be placed in veterans cemeteries around the country and the world.   \u00a0   \u201cWreaths Across America honors our departed heroes, but it does even more.\u00a0 It tells the Veterans still with us that we honor their service,\u201d Senator Collins said.\u00a0 \u201cIt tells our men and women in uniform today that we are grateful for their courage and devotion to duty.\u00a0 It tells the families of those serving our country that they are in our thoughts and prayers.\u00a0 And it tells the families of the fallen that we share their grief.\u201d \u201cOver the years, Wreaths Across America has grown from a quiet tribute to a nationally-celebrated symbol of appreciation for our nation\u2019s heroes,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cIt is yet another opportunity for us to join together to express our unwavering gratitude for those who have given their lives in service to our country, for those who continue to carry that mantle today, and for their families who share in the honor and sacrifice of service as well.\u201d The Resolution also honors the Patriot Guard Riders and all of the volunteers and donors involved with this worthy tradition, and it recognizes the sacrifices that our veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and their families have made, and continue to make, for our great nation.   \u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-comments-case-being-heard-supreme-court-today", "Pingree comments on case being heard by Supreme Court today", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Peggy Young is suing UPS for losing her job because she was pregnant Congresswoman Chellie Pingree voiced her support for Peggy Young, whose case against United Parcel Service (UPS) forpregnancy discrimination is being heard before the Supreme Court today. Pregnancy is a necessary fact of life. It shouldn't be grounds for losing your job, which I think the law spells out pretty clearly, said Pingree. UPS should be held accountable for firing Peggy Youngand cutting off her benefits when her family needed them mosteven though she offered to continue working with minimal accommodations. Even more than that, this is about making sure that the anti-discrimination protections women have are upheld. Clearly, they're still needed. Young was a UPS driver when she became pregnant. After telling her employer that she could continue her route with few accommodations, Young was fired for the rest of her pregnancy because her doctor recommended that she not lift more than 20 pounds. She was not offered a light-duty alternative and lost all pay and benefits during that time. In the case, Young is suing UPS for a breach of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1976. Pingree signed onto an amicus brief in support of Young.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-votes-extend-tax-breaks-families-clean-energy-small-business", "Pingree votes to extend tax breaks for families, clean energy, small business", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Says last-minute deal \"is no way to pass sensible tax policy\" Congresswoman Chellie Pingree voted to retroactively extend a number of important tax breaks through the end of 2014. The provisions had expired at the end of last year, and without action by Congress families and small businesses would have lost important tax deductions and credits.\n\n\t\"Families and businesses are going to start filling out their 2014 tax forms in just a few weeks, so it is important for Congress to act now to make sure they can claim these important deductions,\" Pingree said. \"But to be honest it's shameful that Republican leaders put off this vote until the very last minute. And by only extending these tax breaks through the end of this month, it makes it very hard for businesses to accurately plan for the future. This is no way to pass sensible tax policy.\" Pingree was especially critical of the short-term extension of the Wind Production Tax Credit through the end of 2014. The Production Tax Credit has supported the wind energy projects in Maine that have created hundreds of good paying jobs. \"Clean energy projects rely on the Production Tax Credit to get off the ground, and a long-term extension of the credit is necessary for developers to plan and finance the kind of projects that create jobs here in Maine and around the country,\" Pingree said. \"By waiting until the last minute to pass a short-term extension, Republicans are making that tax credit a lot less effective.\" The bill Pingree voted for today extends the following tax provisions for one year:\n \n\t\tA variety of energy-related tax provisions, including such renewable energy tax provisions as the Wind Production Tax Credit;\n\t\n\t\tThe R&D tax credit;\n\t\n\t\tExclusion for mortgage forgiveness debt relief;\n\t\n\t\tThe deduction for state and local sales taxes;\n\t\n\t\tThe Work Opportunity Tax Credit;\n\t\n\t\tThe New Markets Tax Credit;\n\t\n\t\tThe deduction for conservation easements.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/york-river-bill-closer-final-passage", "York River bill closer to final passage", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Federal designation would lead to investment, protection of local environment House and Senate leaders have agreed to include legislation originally written by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree in a major defense spending bill that is expected to pass Congress this week. Pingree's billthe York River Wild and Scenic River Study Actwould create a 3-year study to determine if the river could be included in the National Park Service's Wild and Scenic River program. Being included in the program would bring attention, tourism and federal funding to the river to protect its resources and stimulate the local economy. The bill passed the US House unanimously in 2012, but the Senate failed to vote on the measure. Pingree reintroduced the bill in 2013 and it again passed the House. Meanwhile Senator Angus King introduced companion legislation earlier this year that has now been included in the National Defense Authorization Act, which will be voted on in both the House and Senate this week. \"The York River is a special place that is vital to the ecology and economy of the region,\" Pingree said. \"Protecting it is important for the environment but federal designation could also bring more investment and more attention to the river.\" The study, in conjunction with community input, would determine if the river is eligible for designation as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River by the National Park Service. \"This has really been a community effort,\" Pingree said. \"The people who live and work around the York River have worked hard to get us this far, and, thanks to the leadership of Senator King, this effort is about to take another step forward.\"\n\n\tKing is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where the defense bill that comes up for a vote this week was written. If, based on the study and community support, the York River is designated as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River, it makes it more likely that federal funding will come to the area for activities like preserving and restoring fish and wildlife habitat, for example. The study would find whether the river merits one of the designations under the Wild and Scenic River program: wild, scenic, or recreational. Then community members would be able to offer their input on whether the designation should move forward.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-announces-provisions-important-to-maine-in-2015-national-defense-authorization-act", "King Announces Provisions Important to Maine in 2015 National Defense Authorization Act", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Announces Provisions Important to Maine in 2015 National Defense Authorization Act\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 3, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that the final 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, as agreed upon by the leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees and released late last night, authorizes several policy and funding measures important to Maine and its defense-related industries.\r\n\u201cThis bill is a reflection of our defense priorities as a nation, and its priorities demonstrate that Maine continues to play a highly-valued role in the mission to protect and defend our country,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThe investments in shipbuilding, military construction, energy conservation, and other projects will not only help bolster our national defense capabilities, but also strengthen the Maine economy by putting talented Mainers to work in defense-related industry jobs across the state.\u201d\r\n \r\nFUNDING FOR SHIPBUILDING PRIORITIES: The bill authorizes more than $3 billion for Navy destroyer programs, including $419 million for the construction of DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, $2.67 billion for the procurement of two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, one of which will be built at Bath as a part of the 5-ship multiyear procurement for Bath that was announced last year, and $134 million for DDG-51 advanced procurement.\r\n \r\n \r\nMILITARY CONSTRUCTION: The bill authorizes $32 million to construct a National Guard/Reserve Center Joint Force Headquarters in Augusta.\r\n \r\n \r\nPORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD ENERGY CONSERVATION PROJECTS: The bill authorizes $2.7 million for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) to be used for energy conservation projects. PNSY is a nationally recognized leader in energy efficiency and sustainability efforts, projects that Senator King saw firsthand while touring the shipyard last year.\r\n \r\n \r\nYORK RIVER STUDY: The bill also contains a bipartisan, bicameral package of public land provisions, including legislation introduced by Senator King last year that would authorize a multi-year study of the York River to determine whether it is suitable to be designated as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River. Senator King urged leaders of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to include the bill in the larger lands package. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, the original sponsor of the bill, introduced companion language in the House of Representatives, which passed on its own earlier this year.\r\n \r\nIn addition, the bill also authorizes more than $6 billion in funds for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, components of which are built at Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick and General Dynamics\u2019 facility in Saco; $8.4 million for the procurement of the Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station, or CROWS, portions of which are built in Biddeford, South Paris, and Arundel; and $124 million for the research and development of aerospace and propulsion systems. The University of Maine conducts research on new propulsion and power technologies.\r\nRegrettably, the language authored by Senator King in the Senate version of the NDAA to improve the eligibility criteria of HUBZones located at former U.S. military installations closed through the Base Closure and Realignment, or BRAC, process was not accepted by the House of Representatives.\r\n\u201cI\u2019m disappointed the House failed to follow the Senate\u2019s lead and include my provision to improve to the HUBZone program,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThis was a chance to jumpstart economic development and create jobs in communities hit hard by base closures. I will continue to do all that I can to advance this issue and help these communities as they work to rebound and redevelop.\u201d\r\nThe 2015 NDAA authorizes funding for the Department of Defense as well as national security programs under the Department of Energy and is based substantially on two bills: 1) H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, which passed the House of Representatives on May 22nd by a vote of 325-98; and 2) S.2410, which was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee \u2013 with the support of Senator King \u2013 on the same day by a vote of 25-1. The two bills were merged through a series of negotiations led by the leadership of the two committees. The resulting conference report is expected to pass the House this week followed by the Senate next week.\r\nThe legislation provides for the pay and benefits earned by members of the military and their families, provides for national defense including authorization of funds for counter-ISIL operations in Iraq and Syria, and represents a broad, bipartisan consensus about America\u2019s national security goals, resources, and policies.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-urges-colleagues-to-meet-constitutional-responsibility-to-spell-out-limits-on-military-action-against-isis", "King Urges Colleagues to Meet Constitutional Responsibility to Spell Out Limits on Military Action Against ISIS", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Urges Colleagues to Meet Constitutional Responsibility to Spell Out Limits on Military Action Against ISIS\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 3, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, renewed his call for Congress to consider a new Authorization of the Use of Military Force (AUMF) to wage the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Currently, the Administration is justifying American engagement under the 2001 AUMF passed by Congress nearly thirteen years ago following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.\r\n\u201cFor us to go home, to take a recess, to say, \u2018We don't really want to be talking about this, we don't want to be responsible for this,\u2019 I think is unfair to the American people. It's unfair to the people who are being put into harm\u2019s way. And it's unfair \u2013 and not responsive \u2013 to the basic principles of the Constitution,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cWe owe it to our country to have this debate. And it's one that I believe is important and is constitutionally based. We are very good here in Congress about not making decisions and then criticizing the executive for what they do. This is an opportunity where we have the power \u2013 the constitutional power and the constitutional responsibility to discuss, debate, and authorize the executive's actions against this terrible foe. I believe that it is our responsibility to do so.\u201d\r\nSenator King has consistently expressed concern about the scope of the AUMF approved by Congress following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and has urged his colleagues and the Administration to take action to bring it in line with current requirements. In January 2014, Senator King joined Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) to introduce the War Powers Consultation Act of 2014, legislation that would strengthen the consultative process between Congress and the President on whether and when to engage in military action.\r\n\r\nAn unofficial transcript is below:\r\n+++\r\n\u201cMadam President, Senator Kaine has spoken eloquently about events of today. I'd like to speak for a few moments about events of 200-plus years ago.\r\n\u201cOn Tuesday, August 17, 1787, at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, the delegates debated the question of war. They debated it passionately and with a sense of history and human nature. And they understood the propensity of the Executive \u2013 any executive throughout history, a prince, a king, a potentate, a sultan \u2013 to lead their country into war for good reasons or no good reasons. They understood that this was a basic question before the body, before the Constitutional Convention. And, Madam President, I would assert that the framers knew what they were doing.\r\n\u201cInterestingly, in the first draft of the Constitution the clause in Article 1 Section 8 that says, \u2018Congress shall have the power to declare war,\u2019 says, \u2018Congress shall have the power to make war.\u2019 That was the first draft. The debate was about whether Congress could effectively make and execute war. They wisely, I believe, realized that that was impractical given the nature of Congress, the large number of representatives, and the exigencies of war, so they left the power to be Commander in Chief to the chief executive. They also recognized the Chief Executive's inherent power to repel an attack on this country. But in all other cases, what the Constitution says is very clear: Article 1, Section 8:\u00a0 \u2018The Congress shall declare war.\u2019\r\n\u201cAnd there was some discussion about this, and some people said, \u2018Well, we don't want to tie the hands of the Executive,\u2019 but others made it more clear. Mr. Ellsworth of Connecticut \u2013 these are from Madison\u2019s notes, by the way, which is a fascinating source about the history of the Constitution. These are the notes that were taken the day of the debate \u2013 Tuesday, August 17, 1787. Mr. Ellsworth of Connecticut: \u2018It should be more easy to get out of war than into it.\u2019 He understood this principle. Pierce Butler of South Carolina said, \u2018The Executive should have the power to repel sudden attacks.\u2019 That's common sense.\r\n\u201cBut then Eldridge Gerry of Massachusetts, I think, put it most succinctly. He said, \u2018I never expected to hear in a republic a motion to empower the Executive alone to declare war.\u2019 And that's the fundamental issue that's before us today. And then George Mason of Virginia later in the debate used a wonderful phrase that I think aptly captures what the framers were after. He said, \u2018I\u2019m for clogging rather than facilitating war.\u2019 And that's what we're supposed to do, is to debate, discuss, and have the people engaged in a discussion before this country is committed to war. Now, the Constitution in the preamble makes very clear that one of the fundamental purposes of this government, or any government, is to provide for the common defense.\r\n\u201cNobody questions that. Neither Senator Kaine nor myself nor anyone else who's talking about this issue questions, A, whether we should be debating this and, B, that it is our solemn responsibility to provide for the common defense. I happen to think, as Senator Kaine does, that the fight against ISIL is worthy of national attention, worthy of national effort and should be debated and circumscribed through some form of authorization in this body.\r\n\u201cMadam President, there has not been a declaration of war by the Congress since 1942. And I\u2019ll conclude with the observation that power doesn't spring from one branch of our government to the other overnight or in some flash of inspiration or change. I would argue, more aptly, it oozes from one branch to the other. Not necessarily through executive usurpation, as through congressional abdication. And for us to go home, to take a recess, to say, \u2018We don't really want to be talking about this, we don't want to be responsible for this,\u2019 I think is unfair to the American people. It's unfair to the people who are being put into harm\u2019s way. And it's unfair \u2013 and not responsive \u2013 to the basic principles of the Constitution.\r\n\u201cWe owe it to our country to have this debate. And it's one that I believe is important and is constitutionally based. We are very good here in Congress about not making decisions and then criticizing the executive for what they do. This is an opportunity where we have the power \u2013 the constitutional power and the constitutional responsibility to discuss, debate, and authorize the executive's actions against this terrible foe. I believe that it is our responsibility to do so. To not do so is simply one more sliding away, one more giving away of our constitutional authority to the Executive, that I think is in detriment not only to the Constitution itself \u2013 clearly \u2013\u00a0 but also to the interests of the American people.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-190000-in-federal-funding-for-arts-programs-in-maine-", "Collins, King Announce $190,000 in Federal Funding for Arts Programs in Maine", "2014-12-02", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Announce $190,000 in Federal Funding for Arts Programs in Maine \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 2, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will award a total of $190,000 in grant funding to eight organizations in Maine that foster artistic creativity and innovation in their communities. These grants will support a wide range of artistic endeavors including film and folk festivals, stage productions, painting and sculpture classes, and a poetry press, among others.\r\n\u201cMaine is fortunate to have many excellent organizations and individuals committed to developing and maintaining the arts,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cThese NEA grants will help magnify that creative spirit and strengthen the fabric of Maine\u2019s communities in the process.\u201d\r\nThese grants are part of a larger $29 million announcement from the NEA that will support arts projects nationwide. A total of 1,118 grants are being awarded from a pool of 3,455 applications. The awards are divided into three categories: Art Works, Challenge America, and NEA Literature Fellowships in Creative Writing.\r\nThe NEA was established by Congress in 1965, and has since awarded more than $5 billion to organizations and individuals supporting the arts in their communities. For more information on the NEA, go to arts.gov.\r\nMany of the Maine awardees have previously received grants from the NEA. The full list of Maine awardees is below:\r\nPortland Stage Company, $10,000\r\nMaine Film Center, $10,000\r\nCamden International Film Festival, $20,000\r\nAlice James Poetry Cooperative, Inc., $25,000\r\nBangor Folk Festival, $20,000\r\nPresident and Trustees of Bates College, two separate awards of $30,000\r\nSkowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Inc., $35,000\r\nMaine Fiberarts, $10,000\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-submits-comment-to-environmental-protection-agency-supporting-carbon-emissions-rule", "King Submits Comment to Environmental Protection Agency Supporting Carbon Emissions Rule", "2014-12-02", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Submits Comment to Environmental Protection Agency Supporting Carbon Emissions Rule\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 2, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, released the text of a comment he submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in support of the recently proposed rules to curb carbon emissions in the United States in the coming decades. The comment also offers several recommendations to improve the proposed rules.\r\n\u201cFirst, let me commend you and your agency for tackling one of the gravest threats that we currently face \u2013 climate change. Second, I would like to note that, in outline, the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) proposed rule under 111(d) is the way that Washington should regulate \u2013 by setting a target and allowing states to develop their own means of meeting it,\u201d Senator King wrote in part. \u201cThis cooperative federalism should lead to the best possible result. It is my hope that the final version of the rule will put the power generation sector on a cleaner path, while spurring investment and creating jobs, all done in a customized way for each state.\u201d\r\nEarlier this year, Senator King expressed his support for the proposed rules to limit carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants pursuant to Congressionally-given authority under the Clean Air Act. The EPA accepted comments on the Clean Power Plan Supplemental Proposed Rule through yesterday. For additional information from the EPA, click HERE.\r\nSenator King\u2019s comment can be read HERE and the complete text is below:\r\n+++\r\n\r\nDecember 1, 2014\r\n\r\nEnvironmental Protection Agency\r\nEPA Docket Center (EPA/DC)\r\nMailcode 28221T\r\nAttention Docket ID No. OAR-2013-0602\r\n1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\r\nWashington, DC 20460\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Administrator McCarthy:\r\nFirst, let me commend you and your agency for tackling one of the gravest threats that we currently face \u2013 climate change. Second, I would like to note that, in outline, the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) proposed rule under 111(d) is the way that Washington should regulate \u2013 by setting a target and allowing states to develop their own means of meeting it. This cooperative federalism should lead to the best possible result. It is my hope that the final version of the rule will put the power generation sector on a cleaner path, while spurring investment and creating jobs, all done in a customized way for each state.\r\nI would like to note a few things that I believe are critical to achieving this goal. Without the proper adjustments, the final rule may be difficult to implement and may not adequately \u2013 or equitably \u2013 reduce carbon emissions from our power generation sector. I urge you to consider making the below changes. Without addressing these, and similar concerns, the final rule will be weakened.\r\n \r\nCompliance: I read the draft rule to allow the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to be utilized as a compliance mechanism, and I look forward to the final rule clearly reflecting this.\r\nBiogenic Carbon: According to the Energy Information Administration, twenty-five percent of Maine\u2019s net electricity production in 2013 was from biomass resources, the highest in the nation. Maine is not unique \u2013 many other states also heavily rely on renewable biomass for generation. I was very encouraged by EPA\u2019s November 19, 2014 memorandum to its regions regarding biomass emissions and I understand it to mean that biomass is an important renewable energy pathway for states to reach their targets under 111(d). In terms of sustainably managed forests, carbon stocks are increasing \u2013 both nationwide and in Maine. Accordingly, I encourage your agency to treat biomass as simply and as geographically broadly as possible.\r\nHydroelectric and Biomass Generation: Maine is fortunate to have ample hydroelectric and biomass generation capacity, but I am concerned that there is an error in the draft rule. It appears that there is disparate treatment of these renewables between the standard-setting methodology for a state and what counts toward compliance with that standard. Simply put, the final rule should resolve this mismatch.\r\nRegionalized Goals: Maine already produces more than half of its electricity from renewables \u2013 much of which we export to the rest of the region, which has helped the Northeast be a leader in carbon reduction. The final 111(d) rule, accordingly, must use a metric that regionalizes state goals, with the above-noted hydro and biomass correction. Any renewable goals must be regionalized to be fair to states with existing renewables that serve regional needs.\u00a0\r\nEquity for Early Adopters: The Northeastern states that participate in RGGI have been national leaders in carbon dioxide reduction. Yet, the draft rule appears to ask more of our states than of other states across the country. It would be extremely unfortunate if the result of 111(d) were that the Northeast was disadvantaged for being an early leader on carbon emission reductions.\r\n \r\nThank you for your consideration of these comments. I look forward to working with you to achieve the best possible final version of this historic rule.\r\nSincerely,\r\n\u00a0\r\nANGUS S. KING, JR.\r\nUnited States Senator\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-supports-affordable-housing-for-homeless-students-", "King Supports Affordable Housing for Homeless Students", "2014-12-02", "2014", "2014-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Supports Affordable Housing for Homeless Students \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 2, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced his support for the Housing for Homeless Students Act of 2014, a bipartisan bill that would close a problematic loophole that can force homeless or previously homeless students \u2013 including veterans \u2013 to choose between furthering their education and having a roof over their head.\r\n\u201cOne of the best avenues for homeless youth and veterans to get back on track is a good education,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cOur current polices often force people who have faced homelessness to make the impossible choice between advancing their education and having a place to rest their head at night \u2013 and that just isn\u2019t right. This bill would enable these students to qualify for critical affordable housing, and I\u2019m proud to give it my full support.\u201d\r\nDevelopers that build or rehabilitate low-income rental housing units qualify for a tax credit through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program. While this program has helped build properties used to house individuals and families who are homeless or have been homeless, current law prevents tenants from being full-time students.\r\nThis \u201cstudent rule\u201d was originally put in place under the assumption that students often have temporarily low incomes and should not receive resources ahead of people with more serious and long-term needs. However, no exemption exists for homeless students, meaning that many young people and veterans with a history of homelessness may lose access to low-income housing if they go to school full-time.\r\nThe Housing for Homeless Students Act of 2014 would fix this problem by allowing full-time students who experience or have recently experienced homelessness to qualify for affordable rental housing through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit.\r\nSenators Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) are the lead cosponsors of the Housing for Homeless Students Act of 2014. A summary of the bipartisan bill is available HERE.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/wgans-inside-maine-with-senator-angus-king-and-hussey-seating-president-and-ceo-tim-hussey-november-2014", "WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Hussey Seating President and CEO Tim Hussey, November 2014", "2014-11-29", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content\n\n\t\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n            \n                \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n            \n             WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Hussey Seating President and CEO Tim Hussey, November 2014", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/wgans-inside-maine-with-senator-angus-king-and-senator-deb-fischer-november-2014", "WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Senator Deb Fischer, November 2014", "2014-11-29", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content\n\n\t\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n            \n                \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n            \n             WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Senator Deb Fischer, November 2014", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-caps-off-stuff-the-bus-thanksgiving-food-drive", "King Caps Off “Stuff the Bus” Thanksgiving Food Drive", "2014-11-26", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Caps Off \u201cStuff the Bus\u201d Thanksgiving Food Drive\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, November 26, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPORTLAND, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with community volunteers at Preble Street Resource Center in Portland to cap off another successful \u201cStuff the Bus\u201d Food Drive. Senator King, along with the volunteers, helped unload a bus filled with donated food that will be distributed through Preble Street\u2019s three soup kitchens \u2013 Preble Street Resource Center, Teen Center, and Florence House \u2013 to help feed hungry Mainers during the holiday season.\r\n\u201cThe spirit of community and generosity of heart I witnessed today is yet another example of why Maine is such a special place,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cHundreds of people gave selflessly of their time, energy, and money to help those in need, and the donations collected today are going to make a big difference in the lives of so many families during this holiday season. I am grateful to have been a part of such a wonderful experience, but I am even more thankful to live in a state where people are always willing to lend a helping hand.\u201d\r\nThe annual food drive, sponsored by Rewind 100.9\u2019s Chuck Igo, is the largest in Maine, connecting with schools in Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough to collect non-perishable food items and cash donations. Over the past eight years, the Stuff the Bus food drive has brought in more than a million pounds of food to Preble Street.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205234210/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=a5034f81-dff4-42d4-91ea-f9ac4a6afd8f", "Extending Current Deal with Iran Makes a Good Deal Less Likely; Further Sanctions Necessary", "2014-11-25", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013Following a telephone briefing this afternoon by Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, U.S. Senator Susan Collins today issued the following statement on the Administration\u2019s extension of nuclear negotiations with Iran:\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"An effective, verifiable diplomatic solution would be the best possible outcome for halting the Iranian pursuit of a nuclear weapon.\u00a0 I am, however, concerned that the Administration's decision to extend the negotiations makes this outcome less likely because it harms U.S. credibility by granting Iran additional sanctions relief in exchange for Iran\u2019s agreement simply to keep talking. \u00a0It extends an interim deal that is neither effective nor verifiable.\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"The extension of the status quo exposes the Administration's reluctance to make good on its promises to increase economic pressure if Iran refused to reach a comprehensive agreement.\u00a0 Even though the President promised to be \u201cthe first to call for more sanctions\u201d if Iran failed to reach an agreement, the sanctions relief that was originally intended to be temporary and limited has now become the price the Administration is willing to pay simply to maintain the status quo.\u00a0 It strains credulity to believe that doing the same thing for seven more months will change the calculus of the Ayatollahs in Iran after they have refused to reach an agreement during the past year.\u00a0\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"In addition, extending the terms of the interim agreement risks the establishment of a de facto bad deal between the P5+1 and Iran. It fails to require Iran to resolve the specific concerns identified in the multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iran\u2019s nuclear program. It fails to require that Iran enforce the International Atomic Energy Agency\u2019s Additional Protocol, the gold standard for verification and inspection that is already in force in more than 100 countries and necessary to confirm Iran is not proceeding with a covert nuclear program. \u00a0It also fails to permit inspectors access to the Parchin facility or to require Iran to fully explain the extent of the possible military dimensions (PMD) of its nuclear program.\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"I stand ready to work with my colleagues in Congress to increase bipartisan sanctions toward the objective of preventing an Iranian nuclear capability.\u201d\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205234216/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=fb51e285-3038-496a-97a3-674b7791f47e", "Collins Signs Bipartisan Letter Pressing Army Secretary on \"Grave Concern\" Over Retirement Benefits", "2014-11-25", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, has joined Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and a bipartisan group a colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Army Secretary John McHugh over the Army\u2019s treatment of a significant number of captains and majors who are former non-commissioned officers and are being forced to retire at their highest previous enlisted rank as a result of the Army\u2019s use of Enhanced-Selective Early Retirement Boards (E-SERB). This will result in a significant decrease in lifetime retirement benefits for the impacted soldiers, for some as much as $1,000 per month or more, or just over $1 million over a 40 year retirement in the case of a captain forced to retire as a sergeant first class. \u00a0\u00a0   \u00a0   \u201cThese former non-commissioned officers answered the Army\u2019s call for volunteers to attend Officer Candidate School as the Army expanded its officer corps to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.\u00a0 Now, despite having served for years as commissioned officers and rising through the ranks to become captains and majors, these dedicated soldiers will soon be forced to retire at their highest previous enlisted rank,\u201d the Senators wrote in their letter. \u201cTo demote these soldiers in retirement is an injustice that devalues their service and will materially disadvantage them and their families for the rest of their lives\u2026 We strongly urge you to take the necessary steps to rectify this situation in order to allow these soldiers to retire at the rank they have earned and appropriately honor their service to our nation.\u201d   \u00a0   Under current law a soldier must serve at least 8 years of active service as a commissioned officer in order to retire as a commissioned officer.\u00a0 Soldiers who serve 20 years total, but less than 8 years as commissioned officers are retired at their highest enlisted rank.\u00a0 During the \u201cGrow the Army\u201d effort the Army dramatically increased the number of officers commissioned via its Officer Candidate School (OCS).\u00a0 The Army expanded to a post 9-11 peak of 570,000 soldiers in 2010 and is currently executing an aggressive end strength reduction designed to shrink the Army to 450,000 soldiers.\u00a0 Many of those OCS graduates are now being forced to retire through the E-SERB process as the Army shrinks.\u00a0 Officers with more than 18 years active service are screened by E-SERB and those selected will be forced to retire on the first day of the month following the month they reach 20 years of service. These former non-commissioned officers stepped up and volunteered for OCS at a time the Army badly needed officers and served honorably for between 6 and 7 years.\u00a0 Now, many are being retired at enlisted ranks they have not held in years.\u00a0 This is particularly disturbing because had they ignored the Army\u2019s call for officers most would have been promoted at least once more and been eligible to retire at a higher enlisted rank.   \u00a0   Read a one-page summary of the issue here.    \u00a0   The full text of the letter is as follows:   \u00a0 The Honorable John McHugh   Secretary of the Army   101 Army Pentagon    Washington, DC 20301-0101   \u00a0   Dear Secretary McHugh:   \u00a0   We write to express our grave concern over the Army\u2019s treatment of a significant number of Army captains and majors who are former non-commissioned officers.\u00a0\u00a0 These former non-commissioned officers answered the Army\u2019s call for volunteers to attend Officer Candidate School as the Army expanded its officer corps to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.\u00a0 Now, despite having served for years as commissioned officers and rising through the ranks to become captains and majors, these dedicated soldiers will soon be forced to retire at their highest previous enlisted rank.\u00a0 This will result in a significant decrease in lifetime retirement benefits for the impacted soldiers, approximately $1,000 per month or just over $1 million over a 40 year retirement in the case of a captain forced to retire as a sergeant first class.\u00a0 This is simply unacceptable.\u00a0    \u00a0   These former non-commissioned officers have been placed in this untenable position as a result of the Army\u2019s use of Enhanced-Selective Early Retirement Boards (E-SERB).\u00a0 Officers selected by the boards are forced to retire as soon as they reach 20 years of service. Unfortunately, under current law a soldier must serve at least 8 years of active service as a commissioned officer in order to retire as a commissioned officer.\u00a0 Soldiers who serve 20 years total, but less than 8 years as commissioned officers are retired at their highest enlisted rank.\u00a0 While this requirement makes sense in the case of soldiers who choose to retire, are passed over for multiple promotions, or are forced to retire due to misconduct, none of those cases applies to the soldiers in question.\u00a0 On the contrary, Army Human Resources Command has explicitly acknowledged that E-SERB will separate fully qualified officers \u201cwho have rendered quality service to the nation.\u201d\u00a0 To demote these soldiers in retirement is an injustice that devalues their service and will materially disadvantage them and their families for the rest of their lives.   \u00a0   Rather than forcing these officers to retire as soon as they reach 20 years of service, the Army could modify its E-SERB policy to delay the mandatory retirement date of affected soldiers until the first month after they become eligible to retire as commissioned officers.\u00a0 For many of the affected soldiers this would extend their time in service by only a few months.\u00a0 We strongly urge you to take the necessary steps to rectify this situation in order to allow these soldiers to retire at the rank they have earned and appropriately honor their service to our nation.\u00a0    \u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205234221/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=64371f3d-72e9-4393-88b7-3b1443f71f64", "Statement on Resignation of Defense Secretary Hagel", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins today issued this statement following the resignation of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel:\u201cAlthough Secretary Hagel is a talented, patriotic individual with much to offer his country, I have never believed that he was a good fit to head the Department of Defense.\u00a0We face complex national security challenges ranging from the threat posed by ISIL and other terrorist groups, the dangerous instability afflicting the Middle East and the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran, to increasingly confrontational behavior of Russia. \u00a0I urge the President to submit a nominee with extensive national security credentials to replace Secretary Hagel as soon as possible so the Senate can consider the nomination. These are dangerous times, and the Department needs a strong, experienced leader.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-extension-of-iran-nuclear-negotiations", "King Statement on Extension of Iran Nuclear Negotiations", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Statement on Extension of Iran Nuclear Negotiations\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 24, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBRUNSWICK, ME \u2013 In response to the extension of negotiations on Iran\u2019s nuclear program, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, released the following statement:\r\n\u201cThe threat of a nuclear armed Iran is real and unacceptable. That is why I support Secretary Kerry and our P5+1 partners in their endeavor to achieve this important \u2013 and historic \u2013 goal to ensure Iran can never develop nuclear weapon capability. Our national security and the security in the region hinges on the success of these negotiations,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cWhile the announcement of another extension is disappointing, I look forward to hearing the details of the extension from Administration officials to determine if we are on the right path to achieving our objectives. The stakes couldn\u2019t be higher, but the issues are complex. I encourage our negotiators to stay at the table and explore every pathway to an acceptable resolution.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-hagel-resignation", "King Statement on Hagel Resignation", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Statement on Hagel Resignation\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 24, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBRUNSWICK, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today regarding the resignation of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel:\r\n\u201cOur country owes a debt of gratitude to Secretary Hagel for his service and steadfast commitment to protecting our nation and advancing our national security interests during his tenure as Secretary of Defense, and indeed, during a lifetime of public service that began as an Army Sergeant in Vietnam. I have gotten to know Chuck well over the past two years and have been impressed with his intelligence, integrity, and devotion to duty in a tough environment. I'll miss working with him and certainly hope he remains engaged in public service.\r\n\u201cAs we continue to work with our allies and partners to combat the rise of ISIL, attempt to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan, deal with a resurgent Russia and rising China, face the specter of the return of sequestration, and further position ourselves to confront threats across the world and protect our vital national interests, it is imperative that we have an experienced and visionary leader at the helm of the Defense Department to replace Secretary Hagel. I hope the President will nominate a successor soon and that the Senate Armed Services Committee will quickly consider that nomination.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-hails-university-of-maine-system-as-national-cybersecurity-education-leader", "King Hails University of Maine System as National Cybersecurity Education Leader", "2014-11-21", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Hails University of Maine System as National Cybersecurity Education Leader\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, November 21, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPORTLAND, ME \u2013 This morning, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, recognized the University of Maine System (UMS) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity.\r\n\u201cOur world is more interconnected and reliant on technology than ever before. While this has enabled tremendous progress, it has also given rise to new and complex challenges,\u201d Senator King wrote in a congratulatory letter presented to University of Southern Maine President David Flanagan. \u201cThe Maine Cyber Security Cluster will be an invaluable resource as we work to protect our nation from these threats. In addition, students who learn and train at this lab, as well as other labs within the University of Maine System, will gain the necessary skills and experience to serve on the frontlines of our nation\u2019s cybersecurity efforts. I look forward to watching these students take leadership roles in this ever growing and crucial field. Congratulations on this impressive designation.\u201d\r\nThe distinction, awarded by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), recognizes the capacity and curriculum that Maine\u2019s public universities have developed collaboratively to help address the critical national shortage of professionals with the skills needed to help defend the United States\u2019 national information infrastructure. UMS is the nation\u2019s first and only public university system in the country to earn the distinction as a national cybersecurity education leader. Senator King also toured the Maine Cyber Security Lab at the University of Southern Maine\u2019s Portland campus and participated in a cybersecurity roundtable discussion with students and faculty.\r\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, Senator King has repeatedly voiced his concern about the danger of a cyber-attack or other destructive computer network exploitation activities that could cause damage to our national and economic security, including threats to the U.S. energy grid, financial services, or health sectors.\r\nThe complete text of Senator King\u2019s letter to President Flanagan can be read below:\r\n+++\r\n\r\nNovember 24, 2014\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nMr. David Flanagan\r\nPresident\r\nUniversity of Southern Maine\r\nPO Box 9300\r\nPortland, ME 04104\r\n\r\nDear President Flanagan,\r\nIt is a great honor to join you today as we gather to recognize the University of Maine System\u2019s recent designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/ Cybersecurity by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency. This distinguished designation identifies the University of Maine System as one of the nation\u2019s top academic leaders in cybersecurity education and highlights the important role that the University of Southern Maine\u2019s Cyber Security Cluster will play in ensuring that our nation is equipped with trained professionals to meet its cybersecurity needs.\r\nOur world is more interconnected and reliant on technology than ever before. While this has enabled tremendous progress, it has also given rise to new and complex challenges. The Maine Cyber Security Cluster will be an invaluable resource as we work to protect our nation from these threats. In addition, students who learn and train at this lab, as well as other labs within the University of Maine System, will gain the necessary skills and experience to serve on the frontlines of our nation\u2019s cybersecurity efforts. I look forward to watching these students take leadership roles in this ever growing and crucial field.\r\nCongratulations on this impressive designation. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to excellence.\r\nBest regards,\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nANGUS S. KING, JR.\r\nUnited States Senator\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/this-week-in-washington-taa-assistance-for-verso-workers-keystone-pipeline-surveillance-bill", "This Week in Washington: TAA Assistance for Verso Workers, Keystone Pipeline, Surveillance Bill", "2014-11-21", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This Week in Washington: TAA Assistance for Verso Workers, Keystone Pipeline, Surveillance Bill\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, November 21, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBRUNSWICK, ME \u2013 As part of his ongoing effort to keep the people of Maine informed of his work in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) recapped this week\u2019s events in the nation\u2019s capital:\r\n \r\nThe announcement from the Department of Labor that displaced workers from the Verso paper mill in Bucksport are eligible for critical Trade Adjustment Assistance. These benefits include employment training for another job or career, income support, and other services. \u00a0\r\n \r\n \r\nHis decision to vote against a bill that would have circumvented the Obama Administration\u2019s continuing review of the Keystone Pipeline.\r\n \r\n \r\nHis willingness to debate the merits of the USA Freedom Act, a bill that would reform the way our government collects intelligence that passes through the U.S. communications systems. The bill stalled on the Senate floor on Tuesday.\r\n \r\nYou can watch Senator King\u2019s complete recap below. A broadcast quality version is available for download\u00a0here.\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-about-president-obamas-executive-action-immigration", "Statement about President Obama's executive action on immigration", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement tonight about President Obama's announced executive action on immigration.\n\n\tKeeping families together who have lived here in the United States for years is a worthy goal and will begood for our economy and our communities. A permanent fix to our broken immigration system needs to come from Congress, but the truth is that Republicans in the House have refused again and again to take up comprehensive reform, so I'm glad that President Obama, like 11 other presidents before him, is taking this first step.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205234227/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=553c0ebd-57a3-4324-b806-3a29d9d04766", "Sen. Collins' Statement on President's Address on Immigration", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Susan Collins tonight released this statement following the President's address on immigration.\u201cThere are an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States \u2013 irrefutable evidence that our immigration and border security systems are broken. That is why I supported bipartisan legislation that passed the Senate last year to reform our immigration laws. The President has said previously that the best way to address this problem is legislatively and that he does not have the authority to act unilaterally. \u00a0His actions are contradicting his previous statements. \u00a0By acting unilaterally, the President is making it less likely that Congress will act to pass comprehensive reforms. \u00a0He is undermining the efforts of those of us who favor immigration reform by diverting energy from that goal. \u00a0 I am extremely concerned that President Obama\u2019s excessive use of executive orders to circumvent Congress is undermining our constitutional separation of powers doctrine. His unilateral action on such a significant issue is contrary to how our constitutional system is supposed to work.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-presidents-address-on-immigration", "King Statement on President’s Address on Immigration", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Statement on President\u2019s Address on Immigration\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 20, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 In response to President Obama\u2019s executive action on immigration reform, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement this evening:\r\n\u201cI am a strong supporter of immigration reform and worked hard to pass a bipartisan bill nearly two years ago in the Senate that addressed many of the issues the President discussed this evening. I\u2019m disappointed that the House has failed to even debate this crucial subject, but I am also concerned about the impact of the President\u2019s acting alone. I fear that the action announced tonight could actually make the reform we need more difficult by causing a backlash in public opinion and solidifying Republican opposition. Our immigration system is broken. No one questions that. But, in order to achieve a long-term solution that brings people together, the Congress, including the House of Representatives \u2013 not the executive \u2013 must take the lead. The country \u2013 including the millions of immigrants we\u2019re talking about \u2013 deserves more from its democracy.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205234235/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=b14d082f-eab2-4707-8c45-df2790b3a496", "Sen. Collins' Statement on Vote to Approve Keystone XL Pipeline", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Bipartisan legislation would create jobs, lessen dangerous dependence on Middle East oil \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Susan Collins released this statement after announcing her intention to vote in favor of bipartisan legislation to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline:   \u00a0   \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe must develop reasonable policies to advance the goal of energy independence for our nation, help ensure access to safe, reliable, and affordable energy solutions for American families and businesses, and work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.   \u00a0   \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMore than six years ago, TransCanada's application for a permit was filed with the U.S. State Department to build the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport crude oil from Canada to refineries in the United States.\u00a0 The environmental reviews and studies have been completed, and it is past time for the President to have made a decision.\u00a0   \u00a0   \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCanada has made clear it will develop this resource.\u00a0 I would much rather see our nation receive and refine the oil from our close ally than have it shipped overseas to Asia.\u00a0 Canada is our nation's largest trading partner, and this pipeline, constructed at the highest safety standards, would create thousands of jobs in our two nations\u2014both in building the pipeline and in the refining of crude oil, one reason why many labor unions support its construction.\u00a0   \u00a0   \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThis is also a matter of national security.\u00a0 This pipeline would help further reduce our reliance on oil from volatile regions of the world, an essential component for our energy security particularly given the ongoing strife in the Middle East.\u00a0\u00a0 Moreover, if construction of the pipeline continues to be blocked, the oil would instead be moved by other modes of transportation, such as ships or trains, each of which carry their own risks for accidents, spills, and harmful emissions.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-announces-opposition-to-keystone-xl-pipeline-", "King Announces Opposition to Keystone XL Pipeline", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Announces Opposition to Keystone XL Pipeline \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 18, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today in advance of this evening\u2019s vote that he will oppose legislation to directly approve the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline:\r\n\u201cCongress is not \u2013 nor should it be \u2013 in the business of legislating the approval or disapproval of a construction project,\u201d\u00a0Senator King said. \u201cAnd while I am frustrated that the President has refused to make a decision on the future of the pipeline, I don\u2019t believe that short-circuiting the process to circumvent his Administration is in the best interest of the American people. I urge the President to make a decision soon, and, if he doesn't, I look forward to working with Congress to put a timeframe on this decision.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/appeals-court-decision-requires-maine-keep-19-and-20-year-olds-medicaid", "Appeals Court decision requires Maine to keep 19- and 20-year-olds on Medicaid", "2014-11-17", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Pingree had asked Obama Administration to reject state's request to roll back Medicaid eligibility Congresswoman Chellie Pingree welcomed a decision by a Federal Appeals Court that the Obama Administration was right to deny a request by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to drop Medicaid coverage for 19- and 20-year olds. In Mayhew v Burwell, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that the State of Maine is required under the Affordable Care Act's \"maintenance of effort\" provisions to continue providing Medicaid coverage for these young adults until 2019. Maine officials asked for a waiver to drop the coverage in 2012 and after the Obama Administration denied the waiver, DHHS sought to have that decision overturned. \"Maine has covered these young adults for over 20 years, and dropping the coverage now clearly violates the provisions of the AffordableCare Act,\" Pingree said. \"This is good news for thousands of low-income 19- and 20-year olds who faced the loss of health care coverage.\" Maine officials had argued that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a provision of the ACA pushing states to expand Medicaid meant that the federal government could not force Maine to maintain coverage for youngadults. The Appeals Court rejected that argument. Pingree wrote to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebellius in 2012 urging the rejection of the waiver, saying \"elimination of Medicaid coverage would not only adversely affect the health and wellbeing of Maine residents and upset Maine's local economies, it would also be in direct violation of the maintenance of effort requirement, even in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling.\" Maine Attorney General Janet Mills weighed in on the side of the federal government, saying the decision to reject the waiver was correct and constitutional.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205234240/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4ae7e48e-4e20-411c-b79b-aa6277fd0a64", "Collins, King Announce Trade Adjustment Assistance Approved for Workers Displaced From Verso Paper", "2014-11-17", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPrint  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance for the more than 500 workers displaced from Verso Paper has been approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.   \u00a0   Displaced workers will be eligible for employment training in another job or career, income support, job search allowances, and relocation services for those individuals who obtain jobs outside of their normal commuting area.   \u00a0   \"The closure of Verso Paper was a significant blow to the workers and to the Bucksport community. This assistance will be critical in helping them as they pursue alternative job opportunities,\" said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cWe will continue to work together to support the workers, and their families, affected by this layoff to help ensure that they receive the federal assistance and resources that they need to move forward.\"   \u00a0   The purpose of the TAA program is to aid workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages decrease as a result of increased imports.\u00a0 In October, Senators Collins and King sent a letter to Labor Secretary Thomas Perez urging him to quickly approve this assistance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-trade-adjustment-assistance-approved-for-workers-displaced-from-verso-paper", "Collins, King Announce Trade Adjustment Assistance Approved for Workers Displaced From Verso Paper", "2014-11-17", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Announce Trade Adjustment Assistance Approved for Workers Displaced From Verso Paper\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 17, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance for the more than 500 workers displaced from Verso Paper has been approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.   \u00a0   Displaced workers will be eligible for employment training in another job or career, income support, job search allowances, and relocation services for those individuals who obtain jobs outside of their normal commuting area.   \u00a0   \u201cThe closure of Verso Paper was a significant blow to the workers and to the Bucksport community. This assistance will be critical in helping them as they pursue alternative job opportunities,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cWe will continue to work together to support the workers, and their families, affected by this layoff to help ensure that they receive the federal assistance and resources that they need to move forward.\u201d   \u00a0   The purpose of the TAA program is to aid workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages decrease as a result of increased imports.\u00a0 In October, Senators Collins and King sent a letter to Labor Secretary Thomas Perez urging him to quickly approve this assistance.   \u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-opposes-bill-give-tar-sands-pipeline-free-pass-environmental", "Pingree opposes bill to give tar sands pipeline free pass on environmental standards", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dirty tar sands oil would flow through proposed pipeline for sale overseas As Congress went back to work this week, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said she would vote against a Republican bill that would let the TransCanada Corporation bypass environmental permitting requirements to build the Keystone XL Pipeline. \"This is a bad deal for the environment and a bad deal for Americans,\" Pingree said. \"It gives the TransCanada Corporation a free pass on environmental permits to build a tar sands pipeline right through the middle of the country. And much of that oil won't even end up here in the U.S. but end up getting piped through the country on the way to being exported overseas.\" The bill gives a special deal to the TransCanada Corporation, effectively exempting TransCanada's Keystone XL tar sands pipeline from all federal permitting requirements, including requirements that apply to every other construction project in this country. The bill also exempts TransCanada from paying into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which all other crude oil companies must pay into to help pay for future oil spills.\n\n\tPingree has been a longtime critic of the Keystone Pipeline proposal, as well as potential proposals to reverse the flow of the Portland Montreal Pipeline to bring tar sands oil to ships in Portland Harbor.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-energy-committee-approves-king-backed-bill-to-encourage-hydropower-investment", "Senate Energy Committee Approves King-Backed Bill to Encourage Hydropower Investment", "2014-11-13", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Energy Committee Approves King-Backed Bill to Encourage Hydropower Investment\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 13, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved a bill cosponsored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would encourage the research and development of renewable energy generated through waves, currents, ocean tides, and free-flowing water in lakes and rivers, known as hydropower.\r\nThe Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Act of 2013 would encourage private investment in marine hydrokinetic power technologies by streamlining the regulatory process for pilot projects that generate energy from oceans, lakes, and rivers. In Maine, the legislation would help innovative enterprises like Ocean Renewable Power Company, which deployed the Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project, the first commercial, grid-connected tidal power system in the country and the first ocean energy project to be delivering power to the public grid anywhere in the U.S., as well as a first-of-its-kind off-grid tidal project in remote Alaska.\r\n\u201cFrom powerful offshore wind to strong ocean tides, one of Maine\u2019s greatest strengths is its vast coastal resources \u2013 and harnessing those resources in an environmentally-sustainable way could be the key to unlocking a clean and secure energy future for Maine and America,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cBy cutting red-tape and redoubling research and development, we can encourage greater private sector investment in hydrokinectic technologies and replicate across the country projects like the one in Cobscook Bay, helping us to power millions of homes and lead the way in innovative clean energy production.\u201d\r\nThe legislation, which was introduced by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ron Wyden (D-Oreg.) and also cosponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Oreg.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), reauthorizes the Energy Department\u2019s marine hydrokinetic research, development and demonstration programs, including the National Marine Renewable Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Centers. It also designates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the lead agency to coordinate environmental reviews and sets a goal of licensing pilot programs in one year or less.\r\nThe U.S. Department of Energy has indicated the waves, tides, and ocean currents off the nation\u2019s coasts could contribute significantly to the United States\u2019 total annual electricity production and power millions of homes each year. DOE is currently developing an aggressive strategy to support its vision of producing at least fifteen percent of our nation\u2019s electricity from water power, including conventional hydropower by 2030.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/veterans-day-2014", "Veterans Day 2014", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement commemorating Veterans Day.\n\n\t\"We should remember the sacrifice and courage shown by the nation's veterans every day, but particularly on Veterans Day when we pause to recognize the men and women who have served this country in uniform. We are safer every day because of their service, and we owe them our thanks and gratitude.\n\n\t\"We have promised our veterans that we will take care of them when they come home, and we should renew our vow to make sure they get the healthcare and benefits they have earned, and make sure they have the economic opportunities that they deserve.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-applaud-expera-acquisition-of-old-town-fuel-and-fiber", "Collins, King Applaud Expera Acquisition of Old Town Fuel & Fiber", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Applaud Expera Acquisition of Old Town Fuel & Fiber\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today released the following statements applauding an announcement from Expera Specialty Solutions that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets related to the Old Town Fuel & Fiber pulp mill:\r\n\u201cThis is encouraging news for Maine's forest products industry and for the workers in the Old Town area who lost their jobs earlier this year,\u201d Senator Collins said. \u201cWhile there is much work to be done before this sale is finalized and people are brought back to work, I applaud the efforts of Expera Specialty Solutions and all those involved in this effort.\u201d\r\n\u201cThis is great news and an early Christmas present for the Old Town area and the state of Maine,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cExpera will find a great workforce with deep experience at this mill who I'm sure will be happy to get back to work doing what they have done so well over the years.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-honors-americas-veterans", "King Honors America’s Veterans", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Honors America\u2019s Veterans\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King, who was in Washington in advance of the upcoming Senate session tomorrow, attended the National Veterans Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery and placed a wreath at the Maine column of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. Senator King\u2019s staff also attended several Veterans Day events throughout Maine.\r\nSenator King released the following statement in honor of Veterans Day:\r\n\u201cIt was at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in the year 1918 that members of the Allied Forces and Central Powers laid down their arms, an event recognized as the end of the First World War. Originally known as Armistice Day, November 11 became the date each year for us as a country to remember and honor the more than 116,000 American lives that were lost in that terrible conflict.\r\n\u201cFollowing World War II, our annual remembrance was expanded to honor all who served, and November 11 became known as Veterans Day.\u00a0 Today, we continue to pause on this occasion and pay tribute to all of our Nation\u2019s veterans who have proudly served on behalf of the United States of America. Our veterans and their families \u2013 those who returned home, those who are still missing, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice \u2013 represent the very best of what this county has to offer and I am deeply thankful for their selfless service.\r\n\u201cThroughout our history, we have faced threats to our safety and security, and at every turn there have been brave men and women willing to step forward in defense of our Nation. We owe them our debt and gratitude. But actions must meet words, and this year we have seen some cases where that promise was unfulfilled.\r\n\u201cUnemployment, homelessness, and a lack of access to healthcare should not be among the challenges our veterans face. While I was proud to support bi-partisan legislation this summer that enabled reform at the Department of Veterans Affairs, I recognize that more needs to be done. We must fight for our veterans, as they fought for us.\r\n\u201cIn Maine, over 10 percent of our citizens have served in the armed forces \u2013 one of the highest percentages in the country. This fact should instill tremendous pride and a sense of responsibility in every one of us. As we recognize our veterans today, together we must ensure that their service continues to be honored into the future.\u201d\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205223927/http://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/king-joins-wolf-blitzer-in-the-situation-room-to-discuss-isil", "King Joins Wolf Blitzer in the Situation Room to Discuss ISIL", "2014-11-10", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Your Neighborhood \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWe know the value of people-to-people connections, and my state staff is committed to serving the people of Maine by getting out of the office and into your community.  Click here to see where we will be this month.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205223930/http://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/king-joins-morning-joe-to-discuss-the-outlook-for-the-114th-congress", "King Joins Morning Joe to Discuss the Outlook for the 114th Congress", "2014-11-10", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Your Neighborhood \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWe know the value of people-to-people connections, and my state staff is committed to serving the people of Maine by getting out of the office and into your community.  Click here to see where we will be this month.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-praises-presidents-support-of-net-neutrality", "King Praises President’s Support of Net Neutrality", "2014-11-10", "2014", "2014-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Praises President\u2019s Support of Net Neutrality\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 10, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement in response to President Obama\u2019s urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt strong Net Neutrality rules:\r\n\u201cAn open Internet is so important to the future of this country. It\u2019s the equivalent of this century\u2019s interstate highway system, connecting people and delivering information and data to new places faster than ever before,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cBut erecting toll booths or designating fast lanes would set that back by stifling free speech, limiting consumer choice, and thwarting the type of innovation that drives economic growth. The Internet can and should be a powerful, open platform that gives everyone \u2013 not just the highest-bidder \u2013 the opportunity to freely exchange goods and ideas. I\u2019m proud the President joined us today, and I look forward to fighting beside him and others to ensure that the Internet remains open and available for the next generation of American entrepreneurs and citizens.\u201d\r\nIn September, Senator King urged the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in a letter to implement \u201cstrong and unambiguous\u201d rules\u00a0under Title II with appropriate forbearance\u00a0that will guarantee\u00a0regulatory certainty and\u00a0open and equal access to the Internet for everyone.\r\nOn May 15, 2014, the FCC proposed rules that would permit Internet service providers \u201csubstantial room\u201d for \u201cdiscrimination\u201d online, undermining the Internet\u2019s founding principle and limiting equal market access for startups, small businesses, and individuals.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-collins-king-announce-more-than-6-million-in-federal-funding-to-improve-rural-water-systems-in-maine", "Sens. Collins, King Announce more than $6 Million in Federal Funding to Improve Rural Water Systems in Maine", "2014-10-23", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sens. Collins, King Announce more than $6 Million in Federal Funding to Improve Rural Water Systems in Maine\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, October 23, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced more than $6 million in federal grant and loan funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve rural water systems in Maine. The investments announced today are provided through USDA's Rural Utilities Service Water and Environmental Program, which assists rural communities with water and wastewater infrastructure.\u00a0 \u201cWe are pleased that USDA is making this significant investment in Maine\u2019s rural water infrastructure,\u201d Senators Collins and King said.\u00a0 \u201cBy making clean water more accessible, this funding will improve public health, create jobs, and attract new businesses.\u201d Below is a list of funding recipients:\r\n \r\nEagle Lake Water and Sewer District will receive $300,000 in loans and $230,000 in grants\r\nCity of Gardiner will receive $188,000 in loans and $77,000 in grants\r\nTown of Hartland will receive $1,200,000 in loans and $3,600,000 in grants\r\nIndian Township Passamaquoddy Reservation will receive $249,400 in grants\r\nTown of Bingham will receive $118,000 in loans and $177,000 in grants\r\n \r\n\"These investments are critical for our health and safety, and in the long term for sustainable economic development,\" USDA Secretary Vilsack said. \"Investments like these in the nation's water infrastructure also are critical to address the impact of climate change on our water supplies. The projects supported with these resources will ensure rural families have access to clean water and create jobs in communities across the country.\"\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/increase-social-security-payments-helps-doesnt-keep-increasing-costs", "Increase in Social Security payments helps, but doesn't keep up with increasing costs", "2014-10-22", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Pingree sponsors bill that would create inflation index tailored to seniors Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said a 1.7% increase in Social Security checks next year will be helpful for seniors and other beneficiaries, but it doesn't make up for the true increase in costs many seniors face. \"I'm glad seniors will be getting a cost of living increase next year, and since Medicare premiums are not increasing they'll get to keep all of that,\" Pingree said. \"But as any senior will tell you, the prices they pay for essentials is going up faster than the cost of living increases in their Social Security. The government should change the way they measure inflation for seniors to moreaccurately reflect their rising expenses.\" Currently, Social Security cost of living (COLA) increases arepegged to the national Consumer Price Index (CPI). Pingree is a cosponsor of a bill that would create a Consumer Price Index-Elderly (CPI-E)an index that does a better job measuring the cost of what seniors spend much of their income on, like prescriptions drugs. The Social Security Administration announced a 1.7% COLA for next year, marking the third year in a row of increases below 2%. However, some years the COLA is completely offset by an increase in Medicare Part B premiums, but this year those premiums did not change, allowing seniors to keep the full COLA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024004158/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1b0e9b21-7a07-482a-8c5a-69329b87629a", "\"Not All Climate Pollutants are Created Equal\"", "2014-10-22", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Christopher Murphy \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tPublication: Roll Call\nNot all climate pollutants are created equal. While carbon dioxide shoulders a lot of the blame, it's not the only bad actor when it comes to the climate. Short-lived climate pollutants, or the soot, methane and refrigerants that we call \"super pollutants,\" can warm the climate at a rate thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide. To tackle this important and far-reaching problem, we've introduced bipartisan legislation called the Super Pollutants Act of 2014. Why are these super pollutants important? When it comes to combating climate change, targeting them gets you the biggest bang for your buck. Cutting these pollutants alone could slow climate warming by as much as 0.5 degrees Celsius, avoid 2 million premature deaths each year and save 30 million tons of crops annually. Although they persist in the atmosphere for a short time span when compared to CO2, these pollutants do a lot of damage while they're there. The most common refrigerant compound used in cars and refrigerators warms the climate at 1,300 times the rate of CO2. Soot, including the black carbon emitted from traditional cookstoves, can warm the climate over a thousand times faster than CO2. Methane warms the climate 34 times faster than CO2. As the developing world modernizes, emissions of all three of these pollutants are likely to skyrocket -- unless we do something. These super pollutants can be tackled quickly and effectively. Furthermore, the U.S. is already a leader in the technologies needed to drive reductions. We are well-positioned to employ alternatives to the chemicals used in refrigeration and air conditioning, do a better job of replacing traditional cookstoves and diesel engines that generate soot, and harness fugitive methane seeping out of landfills, wastewater plants and pipelines. Our legislation will help reduce super pollutants in our atmosphere by taking a number of steps to enable federal agencies to work with the business and nonprofit communities to speed the adoption of super pollutant-reducing technologies and policies, all while supporting American-led innovations to reduce these pollutants. Our legislation aims to foster interagency cooperation on super pollutants; prioritize commonsense, emissions-reduction strategies; and employ existing federal authorities and diplomatic programs through the recycling of high-global warming potential refrigerants, the mitigation of methane leaks, and expanding access to diesel-scrubbing technologies. Taking these steps can save money, drive economic growth, and prevent death and disease around the world while helping to jump-start meaningful action on climate change. Calls for exporting clean diesel technologies and access to clean cookstoves are just two examples that have previously drawn bipartisan support. The legislation's approach has been endorsed by interested stakeholders in both the business and nongovernmental organization communities. The director of the Climate and Clean Air Program at the National Resources Defense Council noted the need for \"adding legislative muscle to the fight to curb key pollutants\" such as methane. Similarly, United Technologies Building and Industrial Systems, a leading provider to building systems worldwide, stated that the proposal \"promotes both ozone protection and improved energy efficiency of newer systems.\" DuPont said the bill reflects \"the kinds of common sense approaches\" that both businesses and NGOs support. The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy has also lauded the bill's use of \"market-oriented solutions\" to address super pollutants. While we recognize how difficult it is to enact new policies, we hope that our legislation will raise awareness of these harmful super pollutants -- and signal that there's some bipartisan willingness to address them in a common-sense way. LINK: http://www.rollcall.com/news/not_all_climate_pollutants_are_created_equal_commentary-237215-1.html", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-applauds-nearly-2-million-department-of-education-grant-for-arts-integration-in-portland-public-schools", "King Applauds Nearly $2 Million Department of Education Grant for Arts Integration in Portland Public Schools", "2014-10-22", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Applauds Nearly $2 Million Department of Education Grant for Arts Integration in Portland Public Schools\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 22, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released a letter from the Senator applauding the announcement of a four-year grant totaling $1,911,849 from the U.S. Department of Education to support arts education in four public schools in Portland.  The funding, which was announced today during an event at Howard C. Reiche Community School in Portland that was attended by Senator King's staff, will be used to support Project IMAGINE, a partnership between education nonprofit Side x Side and the University of Southern Maine that is designed to integrate the arts into core subjects at Howard C. Reiche Community School as well as Ocean Avenue Elementary School, East End Community School, and Riverton Elementary School, all of Portland. In a letter read on his behalf at the event, Senator King praised Project IMAGINE:   \u00a0   \u201cThe world is changing around us, and it is important to think about how we can restructure our fundamental approach to education. What worked forty years ago isn\u2019t necessarily going to work today. It is imperative that we equip our students with the skills necessary to compete in the 21st century, and Project IMAGINE recognizes that critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration are at the top of the list.\u201d   \u00a0   The grant funding is provided through the Department of Education's Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination (AEMDD) Program and will more specifically enable Side x Side and USM to provide educational programming that integrates the arts with core subjects such as math, social studies, language arts, and science in an effort to help students develop deeper critical thinking, decision-making, and collaboration skills. Together, Side x Side and USM will pilot and evaluate Project IMAGINE at the K-5 level in the four schools.   \u00a0   Members of Senator King's staff and family attended the event along with Portland Mayor Michael Brennan, State Senate President Justin Alfond, staff from Congresswoman Chellie Pingree\u2019s office, officials from Side x Side and USM, and representatives from Portland schools. King\u2019s complete letter of congratulations can be read below:\r\n+++\r\nOctober 22, 2014\r\nSide x Side\r\n141 Neal Street\r\nPortland, Maine 04102\r\nUniversity of Southern Maine\r\nPO Box 9300\r\nPortland, Maine 04104\r\nDear Friends,\r\nCongratulations on receiving this Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination grant award from the U.S. Department of Education. The collaboration between Side x Side and the University of Southern Maine has yielded encouraging results, and this exciting federal investment will allow you to expand on your combined efforts.\r\nThe world is changing around us, and it is important to think about how we can restructure our fundamental approach to education. What worked forty years ago isn\u2019t necessarily going to work today. It is imperative that we equip our students with the skills necessary to compete in the 21st century, and Project IMAGINE recognizes that critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration are at the top of the list.\r\nThe arts impower our students, encourage them to think critically and creatively, and serve as a platform to foster teamwork and cooperation. Integrating the arts with core subjects such as math, social studies, language arts and science is an innovative step in the mission to reimagine our approach to education. I applaud the goals of Project IMAGINE and will be following your work closely.\r\nAgain, congratulations and keep up the good work.\r\nSincerely,\r\nAngus S. King, Jr.\r\nUnited States Senator\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024004216/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=be35e007-fb29-4728-8e83-5dd5583f7fad", "Sens. Collins, King Announce $120, 400 in USDA Funding to Benefit Local Snowmobile Clubs, Promote Businesses", "2014-10-21", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPrint  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding a total of $120,400 in Rural Business Enterprise Grants to two Maine snowmobile clubs to support the state\u2019s snowmobile industry and help promote the development of small and emerging businesses in rural areas.\u00a0   \u00a0   Moosehead Riders, Inc. in Greenville will receive $75,000 and the Portage Lakers Snow-Mobile Club, Inc. in Portage Lake will receive $45,400 to help acquire snowmobile trail grooming equipment.   \u00a0   \u201cMaine\u2019s snowmobile industry brings thousands of visitors to our state and this funding will have a positive economic impact in these communities and help create and preserve jobs,\u201d Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement.\u00a0 \u201cWe are pleased that USDA recognizes the importance of supporting economic opportunity in Maine\u2019s rural communities.\u201d\u00a0   \u00a0   In January, Senators Collins and King wrote to USDA in support of the Portage Lakers Snowmobile Club\u2019s application.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-120400-in-usda-funding-to-benefit-local-snowmobile-clubs-promote-business", "Collins, King Announce $120,400 in USDA Funding to Benefit Local Snowmobile Clubs, Promote Business", "2014-10-21", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Announce $120,400 in USDA Funding to Benefit Local Snowmobile Clubs, Promote Business\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, October 21, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding a total of $120,400 in Rural Business Enterprise Grants to two Maine snowmobile clubs to support the state\u2019s snowmobile industry and help promote the development of small and emerging businesses in rural areas.\u00a0\r\nMoosehead Riders, Inc. in Greenville will receive $75,000 and the Portage Lakers Snow-Mobile Club, Inc. in Portage Lake will receive $45,500 to help acquire snowmobile trail grooming equipment.\r\n\u201cMaine\u2019s snowmobile industry brings thousands of visitors to our state and this funding will have a positive economic impact in these communities and help create and preserve jobs,\u201d Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement.\u00a0 \u201cWe are pleased that USDA recognizes the importance of supporting economic opportunity in Maine\u2019s rural communities.\u201d\u00a0\r\nIn January, Senators Collins and King wrote to USDA in support of the Portage Lakers Snowmobile Club\u2019s application.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representatives-mike-michaud-and-chellie-pingree-statements-fairpoint", "Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree statements on Fairpoint strike", "2014-10-17", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree issued the following statements on the labor dispute between North Carolina-based Fairpoint Communications and thousands of northern New England workers.\n\n\t  Congresswoman Pingree speaks at a rally for Fairpoint workers on strike.\n\n\t\"This company made an investment they couldn't afford and now they are trying to take it out on the thousands of highly skilled men and women who work for them. Fairpoint employees negotiated in good faith and made huge concessions but the company responded by raiding the retirement fund they had promised their workers, cutting their healthcare and outsourcing jobs. It's time for Fairpoint to come to the table, make a deal that is fair to workers and keep these jobs in Maine,\" Pingree said. The hardworking men and women at Fairpoint make the company what it is  it's through their talent and tireless dedication that Fairpoint is able to provide the backbone infrastructure for much of Maine's telecommunications network, including 911 services, said Michaud. Fairpoint's success is tried to its workforce, and I would strongly encourage its management team to consider that, added Michaud. No one wins in a stalemate  not the workers, not management, and not our state as a whole. Fairpoint employees have madeconcessions, and they deserve appropriate benefits and compensation for their work. I call on both sides to keep an open dialogue so that this strike is a short one. It's in everyone's best interests to quickly reach an agreement that treats FairPoint employees with the respect they deserve, allows the company to continue serving its customers, and keeps Maine's businesses and communities connected.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141022115347/http://www.collins.senate.gov:80/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=dc8d97a2-de22-461b-99c0-6ad25759139c", "Senator Collins Calls for Stronger Actions to Protect Americans from Ebola", "2014-10-17", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins today sent a letter to President Obama calling for stronger actions to protect Americans from Ebola, including restricting travel to the United States from countries most affected by Ebola to essential personnel like health care and aid workers.   \u00a0   Below is the full text of the letter:   \u00a0   \u00a0   October 17, 2014   \u00a0   President Barack Obama   The White House   1600 Pennsylvania Avenue    Washington, DC 20500   \u00a0   Dear President Obama: The most effective way to protect Americans from Ebola is to stop the epidemic where it is occurring and to implement appropriate measures in this country as well. \u00a0As we continue to support the efforts in countries in Africa where the disease is raging, we must take stronger actions to protect the health of Americans here at home. \u00a0Given the spread of Ebola to a second health care worker in Dallas, it is evident that the Administration must put in place more effective policies and communicate those policies not only to health care professionals, but also to the American public. \u00a0At this point,\u00a0I\u00a0believe the Administration should restrict travel to the United States from the countries most affected by Ebola to essential personnel like health care and aid workers and develop effective quarantine procedures so that anyone traveling from these countries can be monitored for 21 days to ensure that they are not infected with the disease.\u00a0 The key to fighting Ebola is to identify those infected, isolate them, and trace anyone with whom they have been in contact.\u00a0 I am, therefore, deeply concerned that the Dallas cases have been so seriously mishandled.\u00a0 Even though the initial patient was symptomatic and informed hospital officials that he had recently traveled to Liberia, he was not immediately isolated but sent home with only a course of antibiotics.\u00a0 The second health care worker diagnosed with Ebola was actually advised by the CDC that it was acceptable for her to get on two commercial airline flights after she had cared for an Ebola patient.\u00a0 She never should have been allowed to travel.\u00a0 All of this raises concerns that the Administration has failed to prepare our nation\u2019s hospitals to make sure that any potential Ebola cases are promptly isolated and handled appropriately. I would like to gain a better understanding of what your Administration is doing to protect Americans from the risks associated with Ebola and other infectious diseases.\u00a0 Specifically, I would appreciate clarification of the following issues:\n1. \u00a0 \u00a0What action is the Administration taking to improve U.S. hospital protocols and training with regard to Ebola?\u00a0\n2.\u00a0\u00a0 It is not reasonable to expect that each of the 5,000 hospitals in America will have the resources and properly trained personnel to care for an infected patient. \u00a0Is the Administration working with hospitals to designate state or regional centers where hospital personnel have the expertise, facilities, and equipment to quarantine and treat patients with Ebola and other infectious diseases?\n3.\u00a0\u00a0 Multiple federal departments and agencies \u2013 ranging from the Department of Defense, to the Department of State, to the Department of Transportation and multiple agencies at the Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security \u2013 have been involved in the Ebola response.\u00a0 Whom have you designated to coordinate the response among the multiple agencies involved?\n4.\u00a0\u00a0 Points of entry into and out of the United States include multiple modes of transportation that are overseen by multiple federal agencies.\na)\u00a0 What is the federal government doing specifically to ensure effective screening at all points of entry into the United States?\nb)\u00a0 Has the federal government provided proper Ebola screening tools and protection equipment to points of entry personnel?\ni. If the federal government has not provided screening tools and protection equipment to points of entry personnel, what procedures are in place to distribute these materials rapidly?\nc)\u00a0 Is the federal government coordinating with all sectors of the transportation industry to prevent further introduction of the Ebola virus into the United States?\ni. If yes, please provide a description of the Administration\u2019s coordinated efforts to detect and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including the Ebola virus. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\nii. If no, why isn\u2019t the federal government coordinating these efforts?\nd)\u00a0 What is the federal government doing to coordinate the Ebola screening processes at international transit points between the United States and West Africa with counterpart agencies in other nations?\ne)\u00a0 In the event a traveler shows Ebola virus symptoms while in transit to the United States, what interagency response efforts are in place to ensure that travelers, transportation personnel, and response workers are protected?\n   I look forward to understanding what\u00a0specific\u00a0actions your Administration is taking to protect Americans from the risks associated with Ebola.   \u00a0   Sincerely,   \u00a0   Susan M. Collins   United States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-passing-joy-obrien", "Statement on the passing of Joy O'Brien", "2014-10-16", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement on the death of Joy O'Brien, who served for 25 years as Secretary of the MaineState Senate.\n\n\tI was honored and privileged to have served with Joy during my time in the State Senate. She made her job look easy but I know how demanding and complicated it really was. She taught me so much. She knew the process inside and out, had a great sense of humor and strong convictions. She was kind, hard working and made a huge difference in her lifetime. We lost her way too soon.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-house-committee-hearing-about-ebola", "King Statement on House Committee Hearing about Ebola", "2014-10-16", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Statement on House Committee Hearing about Ebola\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, October 16, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) attended a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing on the outbreak of Ebola and the government\u2019s continuing preparedness and response efforts, after which he released the following statement:\r\n\u201cFirst, it should be understood that there are no direct flights from the affected countries to the United States. Mr. Duncan, the only known case to have entered this country, flew from Brussels. In light of this fact, the CDC and our partners abroad have implemented new screening measures both overseas and at the five major airports where the vast majority of travelers from West Africa enter the country. I firmly believe that our response to this crisis must be driven by science, and I also believe that these measures \u2013 in conjunction with the additional screening done before passengers even leave affected countries \u2013 will reduce risk of transmission here in the United States.\r\n\u201cAt this point I am not convinced that a blanket travel ban against foreign nationals traveling from Liberia, Sierra Leone, or Guinea would be effective in stopping the spread of Ebola. In fact, such a ban might actually keep aid workers from traveling to and from the region to combat the epidemic. Such a ban would also fail to stop people who traveled through those countries, and it would encourage people to leave their countries in ways we could not track, thereby possibly spreading the disease beyond the watchful eye of the international community. However, if the situation continues to deteriorate, we should consider the value of travel restrictions at least against tourists traveling from affected countries.\r\n\u201cThese clearly are extraordinary times, and it is apparent to me that the international health community is taking this threat seriously and is fully determined to contain the spread. I will continue to monitor this situation closely and work with my colleagues and agencies to develop and implement strategies to that end.\u201d\r\nKing, who is in Washington following a nine-day trip abroad to South Asia and the Middle East, today attended the hearing held by the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations to examine the U.S. public health response to the Ebola outbreak. Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), testified along with several other leading governmental public health officials. For more information on the hearing, click HERE.\r\nThis week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) implemented additional screening measures for travelers identified as having a risk of exposure to Ebola at JFK International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Dulles International Airport, Chicago O\u2019Hare International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. These airports are the point of entry for 94 percent of travelers originating from the Ebola-affect nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. For more updates about the Ebola virus from the CDC, click HERE.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-condemns-decision-allow-new-herbicidegmo-seed-combination", "Pingree condemns decision to allow new herbicide/GMO seed combination", "2014-10-15", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "EPA decision today will allow big farms to apply a herbicide that contains a chemical used in Agent Orange    New herbicide approved by EPA could lead to further declines in Monarch Butterfly populations.\n\n\tCongresswoman Chellie Pingree had harsh words today for a decision by federal regulators that will allow the use of a controversial new herbicide called Enlist Duo. The decision follows the approval last month of genetically engineered corn and soybean seeds designed to be resistant to the new herbicide. The combination is made by Dow Chemical Company and marketed as a successor to Monsanto's GMO seeds and Roundup herbicide. \"This is taking a bad idea and making it worse,\" Pingree said. \"Roundup and the GMO seeds that Monsanto pushed on farmers have already led to superweeds and have contributed to a huge decline of Monarchbutterflies. And now regulators have approved an even more toxic herbicide and another strain of GMO crops. It just doesn't make sense.\" Pingree and others led efforts to encourage farmers and consumers across the country to oppose the approval of these new products. Over half a million people responded and sent comments to federal regulators asking that they not be approved. In Congress, Pingree wrote a letter to the EPA that was signed by 49 of her colleagues asking them to not approve the use of this new herbicide. \"Enlist Duo is made up of one chemical used in Agent Orange and another that is used in Roundup. This may kill some weeds in the short term but just imagine the long-term cost to the environment and human health,\" Pingree said. \"And the USDA itself has said this approval will likely lead to farmers spraying upwards of 176 million pounds of this stuff on crops every year by 2020. This is not sustainable and will only end up making the superweed epidemic even worse.\" Enlist Duo is made up of 2,4-D, one of the components of AgentOrange, and glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup. Scientists say glyphosate is responsible for the disappearance of milkweed in many parts of the country. And since milkweed is the primary food of Monarch Butterflies, the near collapse of that species has been linked to the increased use of the chemical.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-qatar-king-kaine-meet-with-prime-minister-and-visit-al-udeid-air-base-discuss-operations-against-isil", "In Qatar, King, Kaine Meet with Prime Minister and Visit Al Udeid Air Base, Discuss Operations Against ISIL", "2014-10-15", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In Qatar, King, Kaine Meet with Prime Minister and Visit Al Udeid Air Base, Discuss Operations Against ISIL\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThe CAOC at Al Udeid Air Base functions as the \u201cnerve center\u201d for ongoing U.S. and allied air campaigns over Iraq & Syria \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 15, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Capping a nine-day visit across the region that included stops in India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) traveled to Qatar, where they met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and visited Al Udeid Air Base, home of the Combined Air and Space Operations Center (CAOC) which functions as the \u201cnerve center\u201d for the ongoing air campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria and for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.\r\nDuring their meeting with the Prime Minister, the Senators discussed Qatar\u2019s important role in the coalition against ISIL and urged continued close cooperation between our two countries.\r\nAt Al Udeid Air Base, the Senators met with servicemembers from Virginia and Maine and received briefings from Major General Jeffrey Lofgren, the Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT), on current air operations over Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. \u00a0They discussed the challenges of the ongoing air campaign against ISIL and the success of the drawdown of U.S. personnel and equipment via airlift from Afghanistan.\u00a0 Critical to the ongoing campaigns in the region, nearly 10,000 U.S. servicemembers operate from Al Udeid Air Base as part of USAFCENT and the CAOC.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-recognizes-disability-mentoring-day", "King Recognizes Disability Mentoring Day", "2014-10-15", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Recognizes Disability Mentoring Day\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tParticipants include Maine students from STRIVE U Program\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 15, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) recognized Disability Mentoring Day, a nationwide initiative led by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) with the support of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that promotes career development for students with disabilities. The program matches students with workplace mentors to spend a day on the job learning about how they can prepare to enter the workforce. Participants in Maine include students from STRIVE U, a post-secondary educational program for high school graduates with developmental disabilities that offers paid internships at a variety of businesses and organizations, including Senator King\u2019s Scarborough office.\r\n\u201cDisability Mentoring Day is a great opportunity for students with disabilities to build on skills they already have and remind employers of the many valuable contributions they make to the workplace when given the chance,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThe students from STRIVE U continue to do outstanding work on behalf of the people of Maine in my office, and I\u2019m proud to join all of Maine in thanking them for their service.\u201d\r\nDisability Mentoring Day falls on the third Wednesday of every October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. President Clinton first proclaimed Disability Mentoring Day in 1999, and the AAPD has served as the initiative\u2019s national coordinator since 2001.\r\nThe STRIVE U program is based in South Portland and has been supporting individuals to live independently since 2004. Students receive residential, educational, employment and transition training and attend classes at Kaplan University.\u00a0 STRIVE U has participated in Disability Mentoring Day for the past few years by partnering with TD Bank, with students shadowing mentors at TD Bank\u2019s Falmouth corporate office and downtown Portland branch.\r\nThe newest STRIVE U intern in Senator King\u2019s Scarborough office, Cory Reynolds, will start on Monday, October 20th. His internship will last through May 2015. For more information about the STRIVE U program, call 207-774-6278 and ask to speak with STRIVE U\u2019s Employment Coordinator.\r\n\r\nPhoto: Senator King with Emile Thomas, a STRIVE U student who interned in King\u2019s Scarborough office from October 2013-May 2014.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-armed-services-visit-to-south-asia-and-the-middle-east", "King Statement on Armed Services Visit to South Asia and the Middle East", "2014-10-15", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Statement on Armed Services Visit to South Asia and the Middle East\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 15, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, today released the following statement after returning from a nine-day trip to South Asia and the Middle East that included stops in India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Qatar:\r\n\u201cThe trip I just returned from to India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Qatar was informative and challenging. I learned a great deal about the region, our interests there, and how best to further American interests in those countries.\u201d said Senator King. \u201cI also got a chance to meet with a lot of people from Maine \u2013 soldiers who were involved in the air war in Syria and Iraq, as well as a group stationed in Afghanistan. It was great to have a chance to sit down with them behind closed doors and get their unvarnished views on what\u2019s been going on. I think they were surprised to see their Senator pop-up at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, for example.\r\n\u201cThere was a lot of serious discussion on the trip about ISIS, about what\u2019s going on in the region, about how to structure our withdrawal from Afghanistan so that the country has a real chance at success, and also about working with those countries on a wide variety of issues in order to try to stabilize this region and solidify our alliances.\u201d\r\nKing was traveling with Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs. The trip began with a four-day visit to India, which included stops in New Delhi and Mumbai. Senators King and Kaine met with senior Indian defense and foreign affairs officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Members of Parliament and leading strategic commentators.\u00a0They discussed the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the United States and ways to continue to advance the relationship, including increased economic cooperation and closer defense ties.\r\nThe Senators also visited a USAID project site that supports improved sanitation efforts in New Delhi, and met with leading Indian and American business leaders as well as visited the Mazagon Docks, a publicly-owned shipyard in Mumbai. Additionally, they paid their respects to victims of the 26/11 terrorist attack and visited Mani Bhavan, a home to Mahatma Gandhi whenever he was in Mumbai that is now a museum.\r\nThe Senators then spent two days in Afghanistan visiting with U.S. troops and U.S. Embassy personnel, as well as meeting the leaders of the new Afghan government. The Senators were the first members of Congress to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.\r\nThe Senators spent time with servicemembers and constituents in Kabul and Bagram Airfield to discuss their mission and thank them for their service and dedication. They also met with Afghan special forces at Camp Moorehead and spent time with Ambassador McKinley and International Security Assistance Force Commander General Campbell to hear the latest on the political and security situation, as well as the military mission in Afghanistan.\r\nIn Pakistan, the Senators met with U.S. Embassy officials as well as high-level Pakistani officials. These officials included Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, and a number of Parliamentarians to discuss a range of topics including regional cooperation and security. \u00a0\r\nDuring the Pakistan visit, the Senators also discussed relations between India and Pakistan, encouraging deeper cooperation and resolution of tensions through dialogue. The delegation encouraged Pakistan to support security in Afghanistan and reaffirmed the U.S. Government\u2019s desire to work closely with the Government of Pakistan to improve security in the region.\u00a0\r\nThe final leg of the journey was Qatar, where they met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and visited Al Udeid Air Base, home of the Combined Air and Space Operations Center (CAOC). The CAOC functions as the \u201cnerve center\u201d for the ongoing air campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria and for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.\r\nDuring their meeting with the Prime Minister, the Senators discussed Qatar\u2019s important role in the coalition against ISIL and urged continued close cooperation between our two countries. At Al Udeid Air Base, the Senators met with servicemembers from Virginia and Maine and received briefings from Major General Jeffrey Lofgren, the Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT), on current air operations over Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. \u00a0They discussed the challenges of the ongoing air campaign against ISIL and the success of the drawdown of U.S. personnel and equipment via airlift from Afghanistan.\u00a0 Critical to the ongoing campaigns in the region, nearly 10,000 U.S. servicemembers operate from Al Udeid Air Base as part of USAFCENT and the CAOC.\r\n\r\nPhoto 1: Senator King at Bagram Airfield with Major General Steve Townsend, Commanding General of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division and Commander of Regional Command-East at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.\r\n\r\nPhoto 2: Senators King and Kaine with Major General Steve Townsend at Bagram Airfield.\r\n\r\nPhoto 3: Senators King and Kaine with Major General Steve Townsend at Bagram Airfield.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-35-million-in-initial-liheap-funding-for-maine", "Senators Collins, King Announce $35 Million in Initial LIHEAP Funding for Maine", "2014-10-15", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Collins, King Announce $35 Million in Initial LIHEAP Funding for Maine\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tFunding will help low-income, elderly Mainers heat their homes this winter\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 15, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013\u00a0U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has released an initial $3.05 billion in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds for the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 \u2013 $35,328,047 of which will go to Maine.\u00a0\r\nLast week, in an effort to help millions of Americans who are struggling with their energy bills as winter approaches, Senators Collins and King were among a bipartisan group of 46 Senators who wrote to the Administration requesting the immediate release of these federal heating aid funds.\r\n\u201cThe LIHEAP program assists nearly 50,000 households in Maine and remains an important lifeline that helps prevent people from having to choose between heating their home, paying their bills, or going without food or medicine,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.\u00a0 \u201cWe are pleased that HHS heeded our call to release these critical funds now, which will help tens of thousands of Mainers to stay warm while still being able to make ends meet.\u201d\r\nLIHEAP is a federal grant program that provides states with annual funding to operate home energy assistance programs for low-income households. In addition to helping to pay energy bills for low-income families and the elderly, LIHEAP helps to fund energy crisis intervention programs, low-cost residential weatherization and other energy-related home repairs.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-pakistan-king-kaine-discuss-regional-security-with-senior-government-leaders", "In Pakistan, King, Kaine Discuss Regional Security with Senior Government Leaders", "2014-10-14", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In Pakistan, King, Kaine Discuss Regional Security with Senior Government Leaders\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, October 14, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, were in Pakistan October 12-14 to meet with U.S. Embassy officials as well as high-level Pakistani officials.\r\nThe Senators met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, and a number of Parliamentarians to discuss a range of topics including regional cooperation and security. \u00a0\r\nDuring the visit, the Senators also discussed relations between India and Pakistan, encouraging deeper cooperation and resolution of tensions through dialogue. The delegation encouraged Pakistan to support security in Afghanistan and reaffirmed the U.S. Government\u2019s desire to work closely with the Government of Pakistan to improve security in the region.\u00a0\r\nSenators King and Kaine\u2019s tour across the region has also included visits to Afghanistan and India.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-afghanistan-king-kaine-meet-with-president-ghani-and-chief-executive-officer-dr-abdullah", "In Afghanistan, King, Kaine Meet with President Ghani & Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah", "2014-10-12", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In Afghanistan, King, Kaine Meet with President Ghani & Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSunday, October 12, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, were in Afghanistan the past two days visiting with U.S. troops and U.S. Embassy personnel, as well as meeting the leaders of the new Afghan government. The Senators were the first members of Congress to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.\r\nThe Senators spent time with servicemembers and constituents in Kabul and Bagram Air Field to discuss their mission and thank them for their service and dedication. They also met with Afghan special forces at Camp Moorehead and spent time with Ambassador McKinley and International Security Assistance Force Commander General Campbell to hear the latest on the political and security situation, as well as the military mission in Afghanistan.\r\nIn meetings with President Ghani, Dr. Abdullah, and Minister of Defense Mohammadi, the Senators thanked the officials for signing the Bilateral Security Agreement so quickly, discussed economic and security challenges, and explored ways the U.S. can continue to work with Afghanistan to sustain progress through an enduring partnership. Senators Kaine and King were encouraged to see the new government\u2019s swift progress in beginning to implement its reform agenda. The Senators also thanked President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah for their historic decision to form a unity government in the interests of all Afghans.\u00a0\r\nDuring dinner with Afghan civil society members, the Senators were heartened to hear about the numerous advances in Afghan society over the past 13 years, especially in the health and education fields, and for Afghan women.\r\nSenators King and Kaine traveled to Afghanistan following a four-day visit to India that included stops in New Delhi and Mumbai.\r\n\r\nSenators King and Kaine with a group of troops and civilians from Maine and Virginia who are assigned to the ISAF Joint Command in Kabul.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-announces-federal-funding-confront-coastal-challenges", "Pingree announces federal funding to confront coastal challenges", "2014-10-10", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Maine will receive $492,000 for projects concerning severe storms, climate change, lobsters, and more\n\n\tToday Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced that Maine would receive over $492,000 from the federal National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Sea Grant Program for projects to help coastal communities confront today's challenges.\n\n\tCoastal communities are dealing with a number of questions right now, among them, how to deal with climate change and its many impacts on our marine resources. In Maine, these questions are especially difficult because we rely so heavily on our coastal economy, said Pingree. I'm glad Maine will receive funding to research these challenges and plan for how best to address them.\n\n\tMaine Sea Grant, a program at the University of Maine, will use the money to fund several projects, including:\n\n\tRevisiting Age Determination in the American Lobster: Validating Growth Estimates in Contrasting Thermal Regimes;  \n\tCoastal Flooding and Erosion from Severe Storms in a Changing Climate; and  \n\tSocial and Ecological Factors Influencing Shoreline Hardening in the Northeast: Implications for Vulnerability, Resilience, and Informed Decision Making.\n\n\tSea Grant is a federal-private partnership of 33 programs based at research universities in every coastal and Great Lakes state as well as Puerto Rico and Guam. Sea Grant leverages federal, academic, and industry partners to support communities impacted by coastal hazards. Sea Grant invests in coastal resiliency research and engages communities through its integrated outreach program, bringing together the collective expertise of on-the-ground extension agents, educators, and communicators to support the development of resilient coastal communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-king-kaine-conclude-four-day-visit-to-india-", "Senators King, Kaine Conclude Four-Day Visit to India", "2014-10-10", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators King, Kaine Conclude Four-Day Visit to India \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, October 10, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, and Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, wrapped a four-day visit to India that included stops in New Delhi and Mumbai.\r\nIn New Delhi, the senators met with senior Indian defense and foreign affairs officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Members of Parliament and leading strategic commentators.\u00a0They discussed the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the United States and ways to continue to advance the relationship, including increased economic cooperation and closer defense ties. The senators also visited a USAID project site that supports improved sanitation efforts in New Delhi.\r\nIn Mumbai, highlighting robust U.S.-India economic ties, the senators met with leading Indian and American business leaders as well as visited the Mazagon Docks, a publicly-owned shipyard, to discuss the Indian shipbuilding industry and ways the U.S. and India can further collaborate. The senators also paid their respects to victims of the 26/11 terrorist attack and visited Mani Bhavan, a home to Mahatma Gandhi whenever he was in Mumbai that is now a museum.\r\nIn July, Kaine chaired a hearing in his subcommittee on re-energizing the U.S.-India strategic partnership, focusing on the Obama Administration\u2019s agenda for engaging the new government and deepening cooperation across the many pillars of the relationship, including defense, economic and people-to-people ties. Kaine also joined fellow U.S. Senators Mark Warner of Virginia, John Cornyn of Texas and James Risch of Idaho to introduce a resolution on the importance of the U.S.-India strategic partnership.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cape-air-reselected-provide-essential-air-service-augusta-and-rockland", "Cape Air reselected to provide Essential Air Service at Augusta and Rockland airports", "2014-10-09", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Pingree praises federal program that connects rural airports to national network Today Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced that Cape Air has been reselected to provide Essential Air Service from Augusta and Rockland airports to Boston Logan International Airport. Starting Nov. 1, the agreement covers the next four years and ensures daily passenger service at these airports by subsidizing flights. Essential Air Service is a critical program for a state like Maine because it keeps our small airports connected to therest of the nation. To keep these airports vital and valuable to the state's economy, it's important that they have regular flights, said Pingree. I'm glad that Cape Air will continue operations at these airports and that Mainers can keep relying on this important service. When airlines were deregulated in the late 1970s, rural communities were concerned they would lose air service becausecarriers were no longer required to provide regular flights to them. The federal Essential Air Service program was created to address these concerns by subsidizing roundtrip flights from small airports to larger hubs. The subsidies for Augusta and Rockland airports will be close to $2 million each for the next four years. At Augusta, Cape Air will provide 21 weekly roundtrips November to May, and 28 the rest of the year. In Rockland, therewill 21 weekly trips in the winter, 28 in the spring, 42 in the summer, and 28 in the fall. All service will be provided using nine-passenger Cessna 402 aircraft.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141010003442/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=d5a50115-8268-4a07-9709-ae7aa3de1ea7", "Sens. Collins, King Call for Administration to Consider Rural Impact Before Finalizing Health Care Policies", "2014-10-09", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Reinforce Importance of Providing Quality Care for Rural Communities  \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues in expressing their concern to the Administration that federal rules for health care facilities do not adequately consider the impact these decisions have on rural communities.\nIn a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Director Marilyn Tavenner, the senators pressed for details about how the agency is incorporating rural health care experts earlier in rule-drafting and called for comprehensive information on the rulemaking process. Noting that recent policy decisions have not adequately reflected the reality of health delivery in rural areas, the senators called on CMS to work toward practices and standards that take rural health facilities into account during its initial rulemaking process. Such efforts would help make sure seniors, families, veterans, and others can access services they need in their communities, rather than forcing them to travel long distances for care.   \u00a0   \u201cWe remain concerned these policy decisions do not reflect the reality of providing care in rural communities, and we request additional details on these consultation efforts in advance of future rulemaking,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cThe proportion of elderly rural Americans continues to grow, and even small policy changes or incremental payment adjustments have a significant impact on access to care in rural areas. Medicare beneficiaries should be able to obtain care within their own communities when possible, and we are committed to ensuring federal policies recognize and incorporate the unique challenges rural providers face.\u201d   \u00a0   The letter, signed by 34 senators, can be read here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-call-for-administration-to-consider-rural-impact-before-finalizing-health-care-policies-", "Collins, King Call for Administration to Consider Rural Impact Before Finalizing Health Care Policies", "2014-10-09", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Call for Administration to Consider Rural Impact Before Finalizing Health Care Policies \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSenators Reinforce Importance of Providing Quality Care for Rural Communities \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, October 9, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues in expressing their concern to the Administration that federal rules for health care facilities do not adequately consider the impact these decisions have on rural communities.   \u00a0   In a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Director Marilyn Tavenner, the senators pressed for details about how the agency is incorporating rural health care experts earlier in rule-drafting and called for comprehensive information on the rulemaking process. Noting that recent policy decisions have not adequately reflected the reality of health delivery in rural areas, the senators called on CMS to work toward practices and standards that take rural health facilities into account during its initial rulemaking process. Such efforts would help make sure seniors, families, veterans, and others can access services they need in their communities, rather than forcing them to travel long distances for care.   \u00a0   \u201cWe remain concerned these policy decisions do not reflect the reality of providing care in rural communities, and we request additional details on these consultation efforts in advance of future rulemaking,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cThe proportion of elderly rural Americans continues to grow, and even small policy changes or incremental payment adjustments have a significant impact on access to care in rural areas. Medicare beneficiaries should be able to obtain care within their own communities when possible, and we are committed to ensuring federal policies recognize and incorporate the unique challenges rural providers face.\u201d   \u00a0   The letter, signed by 34 senators, can be read here.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/army-tells-michaud-pingree-military-funeral-honors-program-will-continue", "Army Tells Michaud, Pingree Military Funeral Honors Program Will Continue", "2014-10-07", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Officials say they funding will be guaranteed to provide honor guard at funerals for veterans WASHINGTON, D.C.  Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree said that Army officials contacted them today to assure them that funding for honor guards at the funerals of veterans inMaine and around the country will continue throughout the fiscal year that began October 1st. Honoring the lives and service of our veterans is one of the most sacred ways we can repay those who have sacrificed so much for our country, Michaud and Pingree said in a joint statement. Respecting and preserving the Funeral Honors program isn't a partisan issue, it's something we all support. We are pleased to hear services will continue uninterrupted for the new fiscal year and will do whatever it takes to ensure that veterans and their families will continue to receive this sacred honor in the long-term, beyond this year. The Military Funeral Honors program sends honor guards to over 1,000 veterans' funerals in Maine each year. Budget cuts proposed by House Republicans threatened funding for the program, but Army officials told Michaud and Pingree they will look for ways to increase efficiency in the program. Michaud and Pingree will remain in close touch with Army officials to continue advocating for the importance of fully funding the program, and to monitor any future proposed changes to the program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-fischer-survey-us-nuclear-weapons-facilities-in-new-mexico", "King, Fischer Survey U.S. Nuclear Weapons Facilities in New Mexico", "2014-10-06", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King, Fischer Survey U.S. Nuclear Weapons Facilities in New Mexico\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, October 6, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tALBUQUERQUE, NM \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), members of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces which has oversight of the country\u2019s nuclear weapons enterprise, toured the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory in New Mexico. The national laboratories are responsible for maintaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent for the United States and for other science-related functions in support of U.S. national security interests.\r\n\u201cThere\u2019s no denying that we live in a dangerous world where we continue to face both traditional and emerging threats. To confront these threats, we must have the best and brightest minds working to maintain our scientific and technological advantage and to discover the breakthroughs that will ensure that advantage well into the future,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cAs I saw today, Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories are on the vanguard of these efforts, both in ensuring the U.S. nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective, and in conducting some of the most advanced scientific research in support of our national security interests.\u201d\r\n\u201cThis week I had the opportunity to visit our nation\u2019s nuclear weapons laboratories. These unique facilities and the exceptional employees that work there maintain the nuclear weapons that STRATCOM relies on to defend our nation.\u00a0 Nuclear deterrence remains the ultimate safeguard for American security and it would not be possible without the hard working men and women who make up our nuclear enterprise,\u201d Senator Fischer said.\r\nDuring their visit, the senators toured the nuclear weapons complex, met with leaders and scientists, expressed their gratitude to the workforce for their important contributions, and gained a better understanding of the issues and challenges associated with the senators\u2019 responsibilities on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee.\r\nThe Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces is responsible for oversight of United States nuclear and strategic forces; intelligence programs; space programs; cyber space programs; Department of Energy defense nuclear and environmental programs; and ballistic missile defense.\r\nFollowing the visits to Los Alamos and Sandia, Senator King departed for a previously announced trip to India while Senator Fischer will continue to California to visit Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.\r\n\r\nFrom left to right: Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, Lieutenant General (Retired) Frank Klotz; U.S. Senator Angus King; U.S. Senator Deb Fischer; Laboratory Director, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Charlie McMillan at Los Alamos National Laboratory.\r\n\r\nFrom left to right: Mr. Geoffrey Beausoleil, Manager, Sandia Field Office, NNSA; Dr. Jerry McDowell, Deputy Labs Director & Executive Vice President for National Security Programs, Sandia National Laboratories; General Frank Klotz, Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security & Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration; U.S. Senator Deb Fischer; Dr. Paul Hommert, President and Laboratories Director, Sandia National Laboratories, and U.S. Senator Angus King at Sandia National Laboratories.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/wgans-inside-maine-with-senator-angus-king-and-laurie-lachance-president-of-thomas-college-october-2014", "WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Laurie Lachance, President of Thomas College, October 2014", "2014-10-04", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content\n\n\t\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n            \n                \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n            \n             WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Laurie Lachance, President of Thomas College, October 2014", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/wgans-inside-maine-with-senator-angus-king-and-senator-richard-burr-october-2014", "WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Senator Richard Burr, October 2014", "2014-10-04", "2014", "2014-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content\n\n\t\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n            \n                \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n            \n             WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Senator Richard Burr, October 2014", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cruise-ships-continue-buy-maine-lobster", "Cruise ships continue to buy Maine lobster", "2014-10-03", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Celebrity Summit to pick up 1,600 live lobsters in Portland today    Chellie with John Ready, owner of lobster wholesaler Ready Seafood, in 2012 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said cruise ships are continuing to buy thousands of pounds of live Maine lobster when they visit Maine. Celebrity Cruises has ordered 1,600 112 pound lobsters for delivery today to the 2,000-passenger Celebrity Summit. That is in addition to 640 lobsters that were purchased last month and another 1,600 more that will be delivered when that ship returns to Portland later this month. \"There is nothing more local than live Maine lobsters caught in the waters off our coast,\" Pingree said. \"I'm glad the cruise ship industry is showing a continued commitment to buying local products when visiting Maine and at the same time giving their guests a chance to enjoy the freshest possible Maine seafood.\" In 2012, when Pingree learned that cruise ships visiting Mainewere not purchasing Maine lobster while in port, she wrote to the CEO's of several major cruise ship companies urging them to buy local. Both Celebrity and Norwegian responded and began purchasing locally. \"It's really just common sense for these cruise ships to stock up on Maine lobster when they are in port, but it wasn't happening until we brought it to the attention of the people who run these companies,\" Pingree said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 857, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "ME", "p2": "2014"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=ME&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "Independent", "label": "Independent", "count": 516, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=ME&year=2014&party=Independent", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 183, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=ME&year=2014&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 158, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=ME&year=2014&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=ME&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 857, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2014", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=ME&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "ME", "label": "ME", "count": 857, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2014", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=ME&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "2014", "label": "2014", "count": 857, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=ME", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2014-10-03,https~3A~2F~2Fpingree~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fcruise-ships-continue-buy-maine-lobster", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=ME&year=2014&_next=2014-10-03%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fpingree~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fcruise-ships-continue-buy-maine-lobster&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 207.0271037518978, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}