press: releases: 627 rows where state = "ME" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending

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627 rows where state = "ME" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending

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url	title	date ▲	year	month	party	chamber	state	member_name	bioguide_id	domain	date_source	text	has_text	collected_at	updated_at
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/dartmouth-alumni-magazine-profiles-king-as-man-in-the-middle	Dartmouth Alumni Magazine Profiles King as “Man In The Middle”	2013-12-31	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Dartmouth Alumni Magazine Profiles King as “Man In The Middle” Tuesday, December 31, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine last Friday published a profile of U.S. Senator Angus King (Class of ’66) entitled “Man In The Middle” in which author Matthew Mosk captures King’s role in resolving the student loan crises, his thoughts on the October government shutdown, and his broader efforts at tackling partisanship in the U.S. Senate. In addition to Senator King, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Rob Portman (R-OH) are also graduates of Dartmouth College. The profile is below and can also be read by clicking here. +++ Man In The Middle Independent Maine Sen. Angus King ’66 went to Washington, D.C., hoping to help opposing parties find common ground. Frustration has set in. It is the morning of September 11, 2013, and on this day, for a change, no one on Capitol Hill is talking about the looming impasse on the federal budget. Syria has been accused of using chemical weapons, and a fierce debate over the correct response is under way. On one side of Congress are the hawks who, like President Obama, say a red line has been crossed in a manner that demands a military response. On the other side, a sizable coalition that is weary of war and uneasy about the fallout of a strike in the Middle East. Then there is Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who finds himself in a familiar posture—standing in the middle. King arrived in Washington, D.C., last January as the newest of four U.S. senators from Dartmouth. After eight years as governor of Maine and an almost 10-year hiatus from public office, he won handily a tumultuous three-way Senate campaign with 53 percent of the vote, becoming only the second member of the chamber not affiliated with a major political party. (He caucuses with the Democrats.) King assumed the seat vacated by three-term moderate Republican Olympia Snowe, who left, she said, because Congres…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/article/man-in-the-middle	Man In The Middle	2013-12-27	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Man In The Middle Independent Maine Sen. Angus King ’66 went to Washington, D.C., hoping to help opposing parties find common ground. Frustration has set in. By: Matthew Mosk Friday, December 27, 2013 It is the morning of September 11, 2013, and on this day, for a change, no one on Capitol Hill is talking about the looming impasse on the federal budget. Syria has been accused of using chemical weapons, and a fierce debate over the correct response is under way. On one side of Congress are the hawks who, like President Obama, say a red line has been crossed in a manner that demands a military response. On the other side, a sizable coalition that is weary of war and uneasy about the fallout of a strike in the Middle East. Then there is Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who finds himself in a familiar posture—standing in the middle. King arrived in Washington, D.C., last January as the newest of four U.S. senators from Dartmouth. After eight years as governor of Maine and an almost 10-year hiatus from public office, he won handily a tumultuous three-way Senate campaign with 53 percent of the vote, becoming only the second member of the chamber not affiliated with a major political party. (He caucuses with the Democrats.) King assumed the seat vacated by three-term moderate Republican Olympia Snowe, who left, she said, because Congress had become an impossible place from which to govern effectively. King’s campaign promised not just a moderate, business-friendly agenda that was left-leaning on social issues but also to do what Snowe considered impossible: provide a bridge between the increasingly factionalized parties to get things done. “He’s independent and a problem solver,” actor Sam Wate…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-introduce-legislation-to-assist-maine-veterans-who-trained-at-cfb-gagetown	Senators Collins, King Introduce Legislation to Assist Maine Veterans Who Trained at CFB Gagetown	2013-12-27	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins, King Introduce Legislation to Assist Maine Veterans Who Trained at CFB Gagetown Friday, December 27, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King have introduced legislation that would help Maine veterans with claims made to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contending they have suffered from health problems as a result of being exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange during military training at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Gagetown. For years, veterans who trained at Gagetown have attempted to gain recognition from the VA that their health problems stem from exposure to Agent Orange, which was previously sprayed there in 1966 and 1967. The bill would direct the VA to establish a registry of U.S. veterans who have served or trained at CFB Gagetown and who have subsequently experienced health problems, which may be related to this chemical exposure. The establishment of a registry will provide veterans with a way to make their claims known to the VA and to identify commonalities among their shared experiences. It also provides the VA with a mechanism to reach out to veterans concerned with this specific issue. In addition, the Collins-King bill requires the VA to commission an independent study tasked with investigating the linkage between service at Gagetown and the development of health problems and disease associated with exposure to Agent Orange. Unfortunately, a previous study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relied exclusively on previous Canadian studies and included no new research, such as interviews with those who trained at CFB Gagetown. “Protecting the health of those who have served our nation is a solemn responsibility, and I have raised this issue directly with Secretary of the VA Eric Shinseki,” said Senator Collins. “Just as the Government of Canada found a way to offer compensation to service members exposed to toxic herbicides at Gagetown, the VA should likewise be…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-roll-call-names-student-loan-deal-as-one-of-top-8-congressional-accomplishments-for-2013	ICYMI: Roll Call Names Student Loan Deal as One of Top 8 Congressional Accomplishments for 2013	2013-12-21	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	ICYMI: Roll Call Names Student Loan Deal as One of Top 8 Congressional Accomplishments for 2013 Saturday, December 21, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, last Tuesday Roll Call columnist David Hawkings penned an article outlining the major accomplishments and shortcomings of the 113th Congress. In his piece, “Lackluster Final Score for Congress This Year: 8 to 22, Hawkings names this summer’s student loan compromise as one of the top eight “most important things the 113th Congress did.” The agreement to revamp the student loan system was brokered in large part by Senator King along with Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN). The article can be read by clicking here and is below: Every lawmaker and staffer who’s about to head home for the holidays knows to expect to spend the break answering some version of the same dreaded and derisive question: What’s it like, being a part of the least productive Congress in modern times? Here are two simple numbers for prolonging the uncomfortable conversation: 8 and 22. Assuming the Senate does everything it’s expected to do this week, eight undeniably consequential things actually will have been completed at the Capitol this year. But another 22 relatively big legislative goals — some set by one party, but plenty claimed by both sides — will have been left at various points along the wayside. The narrative’s been set for months: Record gridlock will be the “historic” hallmark affixed to the first session of the 113th Congress. Yes, there are the easy caveats: There are always limits to making laws in a divided government. Some of the most important issues of our time are too complex to solve quickly. Writing legislation is not necessarily the best way to address a national problem. And not all bills are created equal; renaming a post office is, of course, not as credit-worthy as mandating peace in our time. Still, the 10-year extension of the ba…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/oped/-our-leaders-speak_-king-on-the-benefits-of-an-imperfect-budget	Our leaders speak - King on the benefits of an imperfect budget	2013-12-20	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Our leaders speak - King on the benefits of an imperfect budget By: Senator Angus S. King, Jr. Friday, December 20, 2013 This week, for the first time in four years, Congress successfully passed a budget. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 is a two-year budget resolution that finally provides the American people with a measure of certainty regarding our country’s financial situation. The agreement is far from perfect and contains a number of provisions that I would not have included, but despite that I believe it represents an important step forward for this institution and the country. At time when Congressional approval ratings are at an all-time low, it demonstrates that we as lawmakers still have the ability to perform the most basic functions of government. The agreement, brokered by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), represents a true compromise; the type that has been absent from Congress for far too long. They both began their work on the conference committee knowing that no deal was going to make everybody happy. However, after a lengthy process of back and forth negotiations, with each side offering concessions, they were able to reach a middle ground solution that sets our country on a path towards improved economic stability. The bill sets a spending limit for the current fiscal year– almost exactly halfway between the proposed Senate budget level and the proposed House budget level. It partially relieves the sequester over the next two years, which will alleviate the funding pressures on programs such as Meals on Wheels, Head Start, and local housing authorities that serve low-income individuals and families. It maintains important deficit reductions that have already begun and will now continu…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-king-praises-passage-of-defense-bill-with-measures-important-to-maine	Sen. King Praises Passage of Defense Bill with Measures Important to Maine	2013-12-20	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Sen. King Praises Passage of Defense Bill with Measures Important to Maine Friday, December 20, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), the Senate last night passed the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 84-15. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King helped author the legislation which authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and national security programs under the Department of Energy. In addition to provisions that support members of the military and their families, provide for national defense, and combat sexual assault in the military, the bill also contains several policy and funding measures important to Maine’s defense-related industries. “Ensuring that our military men and women are provided the tools, resources, and support they need to protect our country and safeguard our freedoms is one of Congress’s most important responsibilities. This bill meets that fundamental obligation through cost-efficient provisions that support our servicemen and women and their families, provides for our national defense and security, and advances groundbreaking reforms to the military justice system to combat sexual assault in the military,” Senator King said. “The legislation also includes measures that will benefit Maine’s economy and contribute to stable jobs for people in defense-related industries across the state. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I am proud to have played a role in crafting the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act, and I am pleased to see it receive such widespread and bipartisan support in the Senate this evening.” The following NDAA provisions are of particular importance to Maine: AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR DDG-51: Senator King worked closely with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, to secure language that provides statutory authority for a $100 million funding increase …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-statement-on-time-warners-decision-to-keep-necn-on-in-maine	Senators Collins, King Statement on Time Warner’s Decision to Keep NECN on in Maine	2013-12-20	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins, King Statement on Time Warner’s Decision to Keep NECN on in Maine Friday, December 20, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today released this statement following the announcement by Time Warner Cable that it is reversing its decision and will continue to carry New England Cable News (NECN) in Maine. “Our offices heard from many constituents around Maine who were upset that they would lose access to the New England coverage that NECN provides. We are pleased that Time Warner and NECN worked together to reach an agreement that is good for the companies and their customers.” ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/federal-regulators-agree-request-congresswoman-chellie-pingree-revise	Federal regulators agree to request from Congresswoman Chellie Pingree to revise important food safety rules	2013-12-19	2013	2013-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Pingree, farmers argued that smaller growers would have been be forced out of business Federal regulators made a major announcement today about new food safety rules, withdrawing proposed regulations that Congresswoman Chellie Pingree had said would threaten small farmers around the country. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said they would spend the winter making "significant changes" to the proposed rules and release new regulations for comment next summer. "This is a major victory for farmers in Maine and across the country," Pingree said. "The one-size-fits-all approach the FDA was pursuing was overkill for thousands of small farmers and would have put many of them out of business. The size of the regulation just didn't match the size of the risk." Pingree said she's reserving judgment until the new rules come out, but said the FDA's announcement today is a good sign. "We will have to wait and see what the rules look like next summer, but it's clear the FDA has heard what we've been saying and took it seriously," Pingree said. "The farmers and consumers around the country who made their voices heard on this issue deserve a lot of credit for today's announcement." The FDA has agreed to withdraw proposed rules about water quality testing, standards for using manure as compost and regulations affecting mixed-use facilities. New rules will be proposed early next summer followed by a comment period. In a statement announcing the changes, the FDA said "we have learned a great deal, and our thinking has evolved" on food safety regulations. The FDA's statement can be found here. Pingree helped organized a public hearing in Augusta last summer in which over 150 farmers and producers turned out to urge top FDA officials not to follow through with rules that would cripple smaller operations. Pingree has been a strong proponent of making sure the voices of small farmers were heard during this process. (Video of Chellie's testimony is here) The FDA had estimated that a medium-sized farm with annual gr…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-taa-benefits-for-flotation-technologies-workers-in-biddeford	Senators Collins, King Announce TAA Benefits For Flotation Technologies Workers in Biddeford	2013-12-19	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins, King Announce TAA Benefits For Flotation Technologies Workers in Biddeford Thursday, December 19, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has certified Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for workers at Flotation Technologies in Biddeford. As a result, workers who will become totally or partially separated from employment are eligible for the TAA benefits which include reemployment services and training, as well as job search allowances. “It is certainly devastating for dedicated and hard-working employees, and their families, to lose their jobs through no fault of their own,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “The news that the Department of Labor has approved this application for Trade Adjustment Assistance will be critical to helping ensure that the Flotation Technologies workers and their families get all of the resources they need in the coming months.” Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a program of the Department of Labor that helps workers who have lost their jobs as a result of increased imports or a shift of production outside of the United States. TAA provides these trade-affected workers with a variety of reemployment services and benefits to help them find new jobs and get back to work. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-collins-king-voice-support-for-nomination-of-justice-jon-levy-to-us-district-court-for-maine	Sens. Collins, King Voice Support for Nomination of Justice Jon Levy to U.S. District Court for Maine	2013-12-19	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Sens. Collins, King Voice Support for Nomination of Justice Jon Levy to U.S. District Court for Maine Thursday, December 19, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of the nomination of Judge Jon D. Levy, of Portland, to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. Levy, who currently serves on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, was nominated for the position by President Obama in mid-September. You can watch Senators Collins’ and King’s remarks below. “I am pleased to join my colleague Senator King in recommending Justice Jon David Levy to serve on the United States District Court for the State of Maine,” said Senator Collins. “Justice Levy’s extensive experience as a state judge and in private practice makes him extremely well qualified for Maine’s federal district court. His contributions to the Maine legal community and the juvenile justice system would give him a valuable perspective as a federal judge. I am confident that if confirmed, Jon Levy will serve the people of Maine and the nation with great intelligence, integrity, and impartiality.” “As Governor I was proud to nominate Judge Levy to both the Maine District Court and the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, and now as Senator, I am honored to enthusiastically support his nomination to the U.S. District Court for Maine,” Senator King said following the hearing. “Jon’s strong legal credentials, his outstanding judicial temperament, and his dazzling intellectual abilities make him a supremely well-qualified candidate for Maine’s federal bench, and I urge my colleagues to fully support his nomination.” As Governor, Senator King nominated Levy to the Maine District Court in 1995 and then the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in 2002. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/statement-of-sens-king-warner-shaheen-landrieu-heitkamp-and-kaine-on-white-house-response-on-hardship-exemption	Statement of Sens. King, Warner, Shaheen, Landrieu, Heitkamp, and Kaine on White House Response on Hardship Exemption	2013-12-19	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Statement of Sens. King, Warner, Shaheen, Landrieu, Heitkamp, and Kaine on White House Response on Hardship Exemption Thursday, December 19, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Angus King (I-ME), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following joint statement after Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that some individuals who had their health plans cancelled will be automatically eligible for a hardship exemption that allows them to purchase a catastrophic plan on the health insurance marketplace. The Senators raised the issue in a joint letter to Secretary Sebelius on Dec. 19th. In addition, Secretary Sebelius today announced that the Administration has established a dedicated hotline for consumers with cancelled plans at 1-866-837-0677: “We are pleased that the Administration appears to have responded to the concerns we’ve raised. As a result, this clarifies an option that will help those consumers who have had their plans cancelled this year transition more smoothly into the marketplace. We will closely monitor how the Administration implements this option, and we remain committed to proposing responsible solutions.” The Senators’ letter to Secretary Sebelius is available here. Secretary Sebelius’s response is available here. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/this-week-in-washington-king-highlights-budget-ndaa-judgeship-nomination-and-intel-hearing	This Week in Washington: King Highlights Budget, NDAA, Judgeship Nomination, and Intel Hearing	2013-12-19	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	This Week in Washington: King Highlights Budget, NDAA, Judgeship Nomination, and Intel Hearing Thursday, December 19, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of his ongoing effort to keep people at home apprised of his work in the nation’s capital, U.S. Senator Angus King took a few minutes to share this week’s accomplishments in the Senate. In his weekly address Senator King discussed: Passage of the 2013 Bipartisan Budget Act which sets a spending limit for the current fiscal year, provides partial relief from the sequester, maintains important deficit reductions, and provides the American people with the sense of economic predictability they deserve and need. His testimony at an open meeting of the Intelligence Committee during which he and other committee members listened to testimony from Ms. Caroline Krass, the President’s nominee to be General Counsel to the CIA. Comments made by Senator Collins and himself in support of Justice Jon Levy, of Portland, to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. His expectations for final passage of the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act and its implications for the state of Maine. The full video of Senator King’s recap can be viewed below. Also, a broadcast quality version of the video can be downloaded here. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bipartisan-group-reps-agree-do-not-import-unsafe-chinese-chicken	Bipartisan Group of Reps. Agree: Do Not Import Unsafe Chinese Chicken	2013-12-18	2013	2013-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree joined thirteen other bipartisan members of the House of Representatives today to call on their colleagues to ensure unsafe chicken from China does not make its way to US shelves. Their letter asks that the 2014 Agriculture Department (USDA) funding bill ensure Chinese-processed chicken is kept out of the school lunch and other child nutrition programs. It also asks that the bill prevent poultry slaughtered in China from being exported to the US. Consider the impact of China's weak enforcement of food safety laws and regulations they wrote to the Chairmen and senior Democrats of the subcommittees responsible for funding the USDA.More than 300,000 Chinese children fell seriously ill, with some dying, from melamine-tainted milk powder; dangerously high levels of mercury found in Chinese baby formula; the sale of more than $1 million worth of rat and other small mammal meat passed off to consumers as lamb; and more than 16,000 diseased pig carcasses dumped in a river to rot. Last year China Central Television revealed that a Chinese poultry supplier provided Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants with chicken fattened by large quantities of illegal drugs. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced that,since 2007, pet treats imported from China containing contaminated chicken have killed 600 dogs and cats in the United States, and sickened 3,600 more. According to the World Health Organization, so far 45 of the 136 people whocontracted the H7N9 bird flu in China this year have died. The letter can be read in its entirety here. Numerous advocacy and consumer safety groups support the representatives' letter, including: Food and Water Watch, Consumer Federation of America, National Farmers Union, Consumers Union and the Center for Foodborne Illness.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-applauds-passage-of-budget-agreement-	King Applauds Passage of Budget Agreement	2013-12-18	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Applauds Passage of Budget Agreement Wednesday, December 18, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the joint House-Senate Budget Conference Committee, released the following statement today after supporting the passage of a two-year budget agreement. “The passage of the budget agreement marks a major step forward for the country, for the economy, and for Congress as a whole. While I do not support every provision and would have preferred to see a larger and more comprehensive agreement like the one I offered in November, I fully recognize that compromises must be made – and should be made – in order to advance the work of the country. “The agreement, although modest in scope, makes important strides in maintaining momentum on deficit reduction, in mitigating the harmful effects of sequestration, and perhaps most importantly, in ending the governing-by-crises style of legislating. As a result, this agreement will introduce much-needed certainty and stability to the budgetary process that I believe will be of substantial benefit to the economy moving forward. “Lastly, in a Congress rife with partisanship, Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Paul Ryan should be praised for their good work in forging a compromise that was able to pass both houses of a divided government. Their determined efforts, coupled with our vote today, demonstrate that Congress can still work for the people. As we head into the new year, it is my hope that this agreement will serve as the foundation for additional bipartisan cooperation and negotiation on other serious issues that merit our attention.” Earlier today, Senator King spoke on the Senate floor in favor of the bipartisan budget agreement. BACKGROUND: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, which is the first budget to pass a divided Congress since 1986, will set overall discretionary spending for the current fiscal year at $1.012 trillion – about halfway between the Senate budget level of $1.058 trillion and the Ho…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-backs-legislation-to-restore-military-cola-benefits-altered-under-budget-conference-agreement	King Backs Legislation to Restore Military COLA Benefits Altered Under Budget Conference Agreement	2013-12-18	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Backs Legislation to Restore Military COLA Benefits Altered Under Budget Conference Agreement Wednesday, December 18, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced his support for legislation authored by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) that would safeguard military retirees from changes in cost of living adjustments (COLA) that were included in the bipartisan budget agreement the Senate is expected to pass today. The Military Retirement Restoration Act would replace the estimated $6 billion in expected savings from military retiree cost of living adjustments with an estimated $6.6 billion raised by eliminating a tax loophole for offshore corporations. “The budget conference agreement will go a long way in helping to provide stability and certainty for our economy, but as with any compromise measure, there are provisions in it that I do not agree with,” Senator King said. “I am particularly concerned with the provision to reduce the annual cost of living adjustment for military retirees of working age. The men and women of our armed forces have earned these benefits through their service to our nation, and we must do all that we can to honor their sacrifice. By reversing the provision approved in the bipartisan budget agreement, and by closing an offshore tax loophole to pay for it, this commonsense legislation will do just that.” The provision within the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 modifies the annual cost of living adjustment for working-age military retirees by making the adjustments equal to inflation minus one percent. The provision would go into effect in December 2015 and is expected to save approximately $6 billion over ten years. At age 62, the retired pay would be adjusted as if the COLA had been the full CPI adjustment in all previous years, and the service members would receive the full COLA from then on. The Military Retirement Restoration Act achieves $6.6 billion in savings by p…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-releases-county-county-breakdown-effects-ending-unemployment	Pingree releases county-by-county breakdown of effects of ending unemployment insurance coverage	2013-12-17	2013	2013-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	At least 3,300 in Maine set to lose coverage statewide by end of the month Today Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released a new county-by-county breakdown of the number of people who would immediately lose all of their unemployment insurance on Dec. 28 if Congress fails to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. Republicans last week blocked an effort by House Democrats to extend the program into 2014. The county-by-county breakdown, an estimate of the minimum number of people who will lose benefits, is below. The information was provided by the Maine Bureau of Unemployment Compensation. "If unemployment insurance runs out for these people, there will be thousands of families across the state who are suddenly going to find it much harder to pay for basic necessities like food and heat," Pingree said. "There is never a good time for something like this, but the middle of a cold winter is about the worst possible time to do this to these people." Overall, at least 3,300 people in Maine are set to lose their insurance coverage immediately on Dec. 28. An additional 8,900 people in Maine will lose their coverage in the first six months of 2014 if Republicans continue to block an extension of the program. Emergency unemployment insurance took effect in 2008 and has been reauthorized several times as Americans continue to recover from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Despite the real progress the economy has made since its near collapse in 2008, there are still 1.3 million fewer jobs than there were before the recession began and long-term unemployment as a percentage of the unemployed is 37 percent, near historic highs. Failure to extend federal unemployment insurance would also hurt job growth throughout the nation, costing the economy 240,000 jobs, according to the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). The CEA estimates that in Maine alone, failing to extend the program will cost 675 jobs. Below are county-by-county estimates the number of current recipients …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-support-request-for-trade-adjustment-assistance-for-displaced-workers-from-lincoln-paper-and-tissue	Senators Collins, King Support Request for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Displaced Workers from Lincoln Paper and Tissue	2013-12-17	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins, King Support Request for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Displaced Workers from Lincoln Paper and Tissue Tuesday, December 17, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C.—In a letter sent today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King urged Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez to approve a Petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for the 200 workers at Lincoln Paper and Tissue, LLC, who have been displaced as a result of a significant drop in demand due to competition with foreign countries. “TAA assistance is critical to helping workers who have been subjected to layoffs obtain the training and resources they need to pursue alternative job opportunities,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “These dedicated workers, many of whom have worked at the facility throughout their entire careers, lost their jobs as a result of increased imports and foreign competition. In this difficult economic time, we will continue to work together to support the Mainers impacted by this layoff and ensure that they receive the assistance and resources they need.” 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. If the TAA petition is approved, displaced Lincoln Paper and Tissue workers will be eligible for employment training in another job or career, income support, job search allowances, and relocation services for individuals who obtain jobs outside of their normal commuting area. The full text of the letter follows: December 17, 2013 The Honorable Thomas E. Perez Secretary United States Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing on behalf of 200 workers at Lincoln Paper and Tissue (LPT), LLC, of Lincoln, Maine, who have been displaced as a result of a sudden and significant drop in demand for the mill’s products due to competition with foreign countries. Specifically, we urge your careful consideration …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/decembers-inside-maine-on-wgan-with-former-senator-alan-simpson-part-2	December's Inside Maine on WGAN with former Senator Alan Simpson, part 2	2013-12-16	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content December's Inside Maine on WGAN with former Senator Alan Simpson, part 2	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/decembers-inside-maine-on-wgan-with-senator-mark-warner-part-1	December's Inside Maine on WGAN with Senator Mark Warner, part 1	2013-12-16	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content December's Inside Maine on WGAN with Senator Mark Warner, part 1	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/newsletters/december-2013-e-newsletter-constituent-services-edition	December 2013 e-Newsletter: Constituent Services Edition	2013-12-16	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Sen. King joins with representatives from the Maine State Society and Wreaths Across America to lay a wreath on the Capitol steps to honor and remember military service members and their families who are separated this holiday season. Sen. King tours the Advanced Structures and Composites Lab at the University of Maine in Orono. King chairs meeting of the Senate Rules Committee. King meets with a constituent at Capitol Coffee. Resources for Constituents In an effort to help Mainers access resources offered by our federal government, I have highlighted a few cost-saving opportunities and support services that have been made available. Please feel free to forward this information along to other agencies or individuals in need of the services described below. In addition, if you need to meet with a constituent services representative please stop by one of our state offices or join us at one of our "Your Government Your Neighborhood" outreach locations. Taxes I have included some resources that will hopefully save you both money and time filing your taxes: The Saver's Credit: Low and moderate-income employees now have an opportunity to save for retirement and earn a special tax credit in 2013 and for future years. Learn more about who is eligible here. For employers: Hire Veterans by Dec 31 and Save on Taxes. If you plan to hire soon, consider hiring veterans. If you do, you may be able to claim the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit worth thousands of dollars. Lear more here. For tax-exempt organizations: The IRS recently produced this user-friendly online form to help folks through the process of applying for their organization's tax exempt status. Check it out here. Veterans Veterans to Receive 1.5% Cost-of-Living Increase in 2014. Veterans, their families, and survivors receiving disability compensation and pension benefits from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs will receive a 1.5% cost-of-living increase in their monthly payments beginning Jan. 1, 2014. Le…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/oped/king-on-paying-physicians-through-medicare	King on paying physicians through medicare	2013-12-16	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King on paying physicians through medicare By: Senator Angus S. King, Jr. Monday, December 16, 2013 During my first year in the Senate I have been confronted by a variety of issues that are frustrating and difficult to resolve. This includes the rising cost of healthcare and its impact on the federal budget. Congress has tried to manage healthcare costs for decades. As part of this effort, since 1997, payments for Medicare services provided by physicians and certain non-physician practitioners have been made on the basis of a special fee system. The formula was originally intended to rein in the growth of Medicare costs by setting boundaries on physician reimbursement. However, beginning in 2002 the formula has led to annual reductions in Medicare physician payments. Rather than finding a permanent solution to this issue, each year Congress patched the program and postponed these cuts through a series of temporary fixes. These last minute “doc fixes” have resulted in a situation of financial uncertainty for Medicare providers. Imagine the frustration of not knowing until the last minute what you are going to be paid for your services next year. Now the cuts have accumulated to an unsustainable level and unless Congress intervenes, Medicare physician payments will be reduced by about 25 percent on January 1, 2014. In my meetings with physicians, other health care providers, and senior advocates I have been hearing the same request; they all want a permanent fix to this broken fee system. So where does Congress find $140billion for the Doc Fix without cutting essential healthcare services? Last winter I joined my colleague Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Chairman of the Health Care Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee,…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/oped/reform-militarys-sexual-assault-policies-but-dont-relieve-commanders-of-duty-to-get-it-right	Reform military’s sexual assault policies, but don’t relieve commanders of duty to get it right	2013-12-15	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Reform military’s sexual assault policies, but don’t relieve commanders of duty to get it right By: Senator Angus S. King, Jr. Sunday, December 15, 2013 On Dec. 6, Caroline Baldacci published an OpEd in which she eloquently describes the problem of sexual assault within our nation’s military. Like Caroline, I agree that any incident of sexual assault in our armed services is unacceptable, that it is not only a stain upon the character of our military but upon our nation as a whole, and that it is necessary for Congress to take serious steps to address the issue. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have been immersed in this issue since entering the Senate in January and, like every member of Congress, I am committed to finding the most comprehensive and effective way to eradicate the problem. I supported the national defense bill reported by our committee that contains the strongest steps ever undertaken by Congress to address the problem of military sexual assault, and I have also spoken in favor of additional amendments that would continue to make significant changes to the military justice system. In fact, legislation I supported would trigger an automatic review of any sexual assault case by the civilian service secretary — the highest ranking official in the service — when a commander overrules the recommendation of a military legal advisor to prosecute that case. Additionally, if a military legal advisor recommends and a commander agrees not to prosecute a sexual assault case, the bill would require the next higher level commander to review that decision. Perhaps most importantly, though, in an effort to protect victims and improve reporting, a provision I supported would criminalize retaliation against a vi…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/this-week-in-washington-the-budget-deal-and-the-benefits-of-the-aca-	This Week in Washington: the Budget Deal and the Benefits of the ACA	2013-12-14	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	This Week in Washington: the Budget Deal and the Benefits of the ACA Saturday, December 14, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his ongoing effort to keep constituents back home up to date with his work in the Senate, U.S. Senator Angus King took a few minutes to discuss this week’s events in Washington. In his recap, Senator King discussed the budget deal that was announced Tuesday evening by Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Paul Ryan. The deal continues the significant deficit reduction of the past three years and provides a much-needed sense of certainty for the economy. On Thursday, Senator King was joined by North Yarmouth resident and former intern, Hannah Dorr, who shared her personal story illustrating the benefits of ACA for children with pre-existing conditions. While he has concerns about certain provisions of the ACA, Senator King emphasized the huge and positive impact the law has already made on the lives of countless people across the county. The full video of Senator King’s weekly recap can be viewed below. A broadcast quality version of the video can also be downloaded here. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/oped/maines-home-to-great-inventors-entrepreneurs	Maine's home to great inventors, entrepreneurs	2013-12-13	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Maine's home to great inventors, entrepreneurs By: Senator Angus S. King, Jr. Aroostook Republica Friday, December 13, 2013 I am frequently asked what the most limiting factor to innovation and entrepreneurship in Maine is. The truth is that our attitude and imagination are the only limiting factors, but creating a business friendly environment and supportive infrastructure are two important steps to unleashing great ideas here at home. The good news is that there are countless small businesses throughout the state that are adopting new technologies and marketing strategies to help enhance, grow, and expand their operations. I saw this first-hand on my recent trip to Washington County where I met with local business and community leaders to talk about what they are doing, the challenges they face, and what can be done to help promote economic growth. Here are just a few examples of Maine innovators Down East who are helping move our state economy forward: Situated in the St. Croix River Valley along the border between New Brunswick, Canada and Baileyville, Maine, Woodland Pulp Mill has been demonstrating how our traditional industries can adapt to the demands of the 21st century. I was impressed to learn that they have become 100% energy self-sufficient and have successfully incorporated alternative, cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas, into their day-to-day operations. This, and the use of other new technologies, has allowed them to reduce costs and increase profit margins while adhering to environmentally responsible practices that ensure our forests will remain a valuable resource for generations to come. Simi…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-exempt-volunteer-first-responders-from-healthcare-mandate	Collins, King Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Exempt Volunteer First Responders from Healthcare Mandate	2013-12-13	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Exempt Volunteer First Responders from Healthcare Mandate Proposal designed to allow localities to retain volunteer first responders Friday, December 13, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King this week introduced bipartisan legislation to help ensure volunteer firefighters and other first responders can continue protecting communities that rely on them. The Protect Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act, which is also sponsored by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Pat Toomey (R-PA), and Mark Begich (D-AK) would amend the Affordable Care Act to make it clear that volunteer emergency service workers are not required to be counted as full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) for purposes of healthcare coverage. Approximately 750,000 volunteer firefighters serve in 20,000 all-volunteer and 5,000 combination career-volunteer fire departments throughout the United States. In Maine, there are an estimated 405 fire departments throughout the state that are either mostly staffed or all staffed by volunteers. Some volunteer firefighters are nominally paid, and most volunteer first responders have other full-time employment. Many emergency response agencies do not have the resources to provide pay or benefits to volunteers and most volunteer first responders do not expect to receive compensation or health coverage as a result of their volunteer public service. “Maine boasts one of the highest percentages of volunteer and on-call firefighters in the nation, and these brave men and women play a vital role in keeping our communities safe each and every day,” Senator Collins said. “It is unacceptable that an undue burden could be placed on volunteer fire departments across the country, and it is imperative that this ambiguity in the law be clarified and fixed.” “Hundreds of small towns in Maine and thousands more across the nation rely on volunteer firefighters and other e…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/sen-king-and-hannah-dorr-of-north-yarmouth-highlight-benefits-of-affordable-care-act-for-people-with-pre-existing-conditions	Sen. King and Hannah Dorr of North Yarmouth Highlight Benefits of Affordable Care Act for People with Pre-Existing Conditions	2013-12-12	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Thursday, December 12, 2013 Sen. King and Hannah Dorr of North Yarmouth Highlight Benefits of Affordable Care Act for People with Pre-Existing Conditions Videos of both the Senator’s remarks and Hannah Dorr’s remarks have been included below: A complete transcript of Senator King’s remarks: I'm here because bad news gets halfway around the world before good news gets its shoes on. And all we hear is bad news and all we hear are examples of people that are having problems. But the quiet good news is that literally millions of Americans, for the first time, have been able to access quality healthcare at a reasonable price. And it's almost impossible to convey in words what that means to these families; people who have literally lived their lives with a cloud of not being able to having insurance to cover their children or themselves because they've had some healthcare issues in the past. I have two personal stories, and I think the fact that we all virtually have personal stories tells you how widespread the impact of this is. It's not just a few people, it's not somebody in Peoria or California, it's people right here in this building. 40 years ago I was fortunate enough to have a good healthcare coverage that included free physicals. And because of that, at the age of 28 or 29, I went in to have a routine physical, my first in 9 years. In the course of that routine physical, which was part of my healthcare coverage, which by the way is now preventive care that's provided under the Affordable Care Act to everyone, it was determined that I had a rare and aggressive form of cancer called malignant melanoma. And the thing about malignant melanoma is that you either get it in time and live, or you don't and you die. And I was fortunate enough that it was caught in time, I had surgery and fully recovered - here I am. But it has haunted me ever since that somewhere in America, that same year, was a young man or a young woman who didn'…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-king-and-hannah-dorr-of-north-yarmouth-highlight-benefits-of-affordable-care-act-for-children-with-pre-existing-conditions	Sen. King and Hannah Dorr of North Yarmouth Highlight Benefits of Affordable Care Act for Children with Pre-Existing Conditions	2013-12-12	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Sen. King and Hannah Dorr of North Yarmouth Highlight Benefits of Affordable Care Act for Children with Pre-Existing Conditions Thursday, December 12, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today stood beside Hannah Dorr, a native of North Yarmouth, Maine, to highlight how up to 17 million children with pre-existing conditions – including thousands in Maine – can no longer be denied health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act. “The quiet good news is that literally millions of Americans for the first time have been able to access quality healthcare at a reasonable price, and it’s almost impossible to convey in words what that means to these families – people who have literally lived their lives with a cloud of not being able to have insurance to cover their children or themselves because they’ve had some healthcare issues in the past,” Senator King said. “Disease is no respecter of social class or economics or anything else, and that’s why we need to be able to provide this type of coverage to all of our citizens.” Hannah Dorr, a 22-year-old native of North Yarmouth and a former intern in Senator King’s Washington, D.C. office, joined him to share her story of how her pre-existing condition has impacted her life. At the age of 16, Hannah was diagnosed with a rare, progressive, genetic heart disease called Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia, or ARVD, but thanks to the Affordable Care Act, she is now able to stay on her parents’ insurance until age 26 and cannot be denied health insurance coverage because of her heart condition. “I think the scariest part for my parents was the uncertainty of how I was going to afford insurance later in life with a preexisting condition. For me, going into the individual market before the Affordable Care Act would mean astronomically high premiums and cost-sharing that would be outside of my means, and caring for my disease would fall by the wayside,” Hannah said. “The Affordable Care Act not only allows me t…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/feds-regulation-antibiotics-farm-animals-good-start-much-more-needs-be	Feds' regulation of antibiotics for farm animals a good start but much more needs to be done	2013-12-11	2013	2013-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Pingree supports legislation that cracks down on the use of drugs in feed Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today she's glad the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is beginning to regulate the use of human antibiotics in animal feed, but says the rules need to be much tougher. Today the FDA proposed two new regulations that are aimed to limit the use of those drugs on farms. "The use of antibiotics to fatten up animals on big factory farms has gotten out of hand and has become a threat to human health. The practice should be stopped and the rules the FDA are proposing today fall far short of that," Pingree said. "But at least it's a start and a recognition that this is a problem. The Obama Administration has a three-year plan to limit the use of antibiotics in animal feed and I hope this is the first step in that effort." Pingree is a cosponsor of a bill that would crack down on the use of the drugs for healthy animals while still allowing for the treatment of sick animals. (Specifically, the bill would withdraw eight classes of antibiotics that are essential to human health from use on food-animal farms unless animals or herds are sick with disease, or unless drug companies can prove that their routine use does not harm human health.) The use of antibiotics to stimulate rapid growth in animals and fight off diseases when they are kept in close quarters has increased dramatically. In 2011, farmers used nearly four times as much antibiotics in feed as doctors prescribed for humans. Scientists say the overuse of antibiotics is resulting in new superbugs in humans that don't respond to drug treatment, like the antibiotic resistant form of Salmonella that was found in chicken this fall and infected almost 400 people. Some drugs that were originally developed to fight infections in people are now being marketed as promoting growth in farm animals. The regulations the FDA proposed today ask drug companies to voluntarily stop making that claim and require prescriptions from veterinarians. Pingree, an organic …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/remembering-pearl-harbor	Remembering Pearl Harbor	2013-12-10	2013	2013-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, marking the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor: Today we pause to remember the thousands of Americans who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor and the millions more who sacrificed during the war that followed. They successfully defended our country from the forces of tyranny and oppression. We owe them our thanks and gratitude.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-praises-budget-conference-announcement	King Praises Budget Conference Announcement	2013-12-10	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Praises Budget Conference Announcement Tuesday, December 10, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the joint House-Senate Budget Conference Committee, praised an announcement this evening by Senator Patty Murray and Committee Chairman Paul Ryan that they have reached a two-year budget agreement in advance of the budget conference’s December 13th deadline: “The announcement of a budget agreement by Senator Murray and Congressman Ryan represents a significant and desperately-needed victory for compromise and bipartisanship in a Congress that has been plagued by extreme gridlock,” Senator King said. “While there are provisions within the deal that I do not agree with, I understand that in order to move forward and best serve the nation, compromises must be made. I urge my colleagues to recognize that, although the deal is not perfect, it is a step in the right direction.” The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 would set overall discretionary spending for the current fiscal year at $1.012 trillion – about halfway between the Senate budget level of $1.058 trillion and the House budget level of $967 billion. The agreement would provide $63 billion in sequester relief over two years, split evenly between defense and non-defense programs. In fiscal year 2014, defense discretionary spending would be set at $520.5 billion, and non-defense discretionary spending would be set at $491.8 billion. The sequester relief is fully offset by savings elsewhere in the budget. The agreement includes dozens of specific deficit-reduction provisions, with mandatory savings and non-tax revenue totaling approximately $85 billion. The agreement would reduce the deficit by between $20 and $23 billion. The House of Representatives is expected to take up the Bipartisan Budget Act first, followed by the Senate. If this bill is signed into law, the appropriations committees will then be able to work on spending bills at an agreed-upon level in advance of the January 15th dead…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-pingree-nominates-23-maine-students-united-states-servic-0	Congresswoman Pingree nominates 23 Maine students to United States Service Academies	2013-12-06	2013	2013-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	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. More information on applying for nominations is available here. Pingree nominated several students to more than one academy. The full list of nominations is below. United States Naval Academy Paul Babirak, Scarborough, Grove City College Andrew Benger, Cumberland, Greely HS John Bennett, Chelsea, Cony HS Emily Cox, Topsham, Mt. Ararat HS Wesley Crawford, Yarmouth, Yarmouth HS Tyler Davidson, South Berwick, U.S. Naval Academy Prep School Erin Donlon, Saco, Maine Maritime Academy Liam Mahoney, Yarmouth, Yarmouth HS Grace Rabinowitz, Brunswick, Brunswick HS Robert Runnells, Saco, Thornton Academy United States Military Academy Andrew Benger, Cumberland, Greely HS John Bennett, Chelsea, Cony HS Emily Cox, Topsham, Mt. Ararat HS Wesley Crawford, Yarmouth, Yarmouth HS Angus Ferrell, Falmouth, Falmouth HS Christian O'Connor, York, York HS Kyle Robinson, York, Brandeis University Robert Runnells, Saco, Thornton Academy Matthew Webber, York, St. Tho…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-pingree-nominates-23-maine-students-united-states-service	Congresswoman Pingree nominates 23 Maine students to United States Service Academies	2013-12-06	2013	2013-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	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. More information on applying for nominations is available here. Pingree nominated several students to more than one academy. The full list of nominations is below. United States Naval Academy Paul Babirak, Scarborough, Grove City College Andrew Benger, Cumberland, Greely HS John Bennett, Chelsea, Cony HS Emily Cox, Topsham, Mt. Ararat HS Wesley Crawford, Yarmouth, Yarmouth HS Tyler Davidson, South Berwick, U.S. Naval Academy Prep School Erin Donlon, Saco, Maine Maritime Academy Liam Mahoney, Yarmouth, Yarmouth HS Grace Rabinowitz, Brunswick, Brunswick HS Robert Runnells, Saco, Thornton Academy United States Military Academy Andrew Benger, Cumberland, Greely HS John Bennett, Chelsea, Cony HS Emily Cox, Topsham, Mt. Ararat HS Wesley Crawford, Yarmouth, Yarmouth HS Angus Ferrell, Falmouth, Falmouth HS Christian O'Connor, York, York HS Kyle Robinson, York, Brandeis University Robert Runnells, Saco, Thornton Academy Matthew Webber, York, St. Tho…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/if-congress-doesnt-act-thousands-maine-families-would-lose-access	If Congress doesn't act, thousands of Maine families would lose access to unemployment insurance at end of month	2013-12-06	2013	2013-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Loss of benefits would hurt local businesses, slow economic growth Congresswoman Chellie Pingree warned Congressional leaders today that letting emergency unemployment benefits expire at the end of this month would slow the economic recovery and make it harder for workers looking for a job to get by. "If Congress doesn't act, 3,000 people in Maine will lose their unemployment checks at the end of the month and nearly 9,000 more will by next summer. Not only will that be a devastating blow to families struggling to make ends meet but will have a real impact on economic growth," Pingree said. "Unemployment checks don't sit in someone's bank account, they get spent on gas, groceries, clothes, home heating oil and other essentials at local businesses. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) unemployment checks are the most effective benefit, dollar-for-dollar, to drive local economic activity. At issue are benefits under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which was passed in 2008 and signed into law by President Bush. The program extends unemployment benefits beyond the basic 26 weeks. According to a new report out this week from the White House Council of Economic Advisors, if Congress doesn't act to extend the program before December 28, 3,000 Maine workers would lose their benefits immediately and another 8,900 would lose them during the first half of nextyear. Already in Maine, the length of benefits available to unemployed workers has been cut back by over a third since 2011. Pingree has been a strong supporter of continuing these extended benefits. "Face it, the economy is still weak in Maine and around the country and it often takes awhile for someone to find a job," Pingree said. These emergency benefits have already been scaled back as the economy slowly improves but letting the program end altogether would be like pulling the rug out from under families who are struggling to stay afloat in the middle of the winter." According to the report out this week, failing t…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20131211035024/http://www.collins.senate.gov:80/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4a7c0eab-2f45-4dee-a487-0732fef75b25	Senators Collins, King Announce Maine Nominees to U.S. Military Service Academies	2013-12-06	2013	2013-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	web.archive.org	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced their nominees to the United States Military Academies. To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes members of Congress. Admission to the United States Coast Guard Academy, also a federal service academy, does not require a congressional nomination. "We are proud to have the honor to nominate such an impressive group of Maine students to our nation's distinguished service academies," said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. "The young people we have nominated have earned this honor through a commitment to strong scholarship, leadership, and character." The following students from Maine have received nominations as candidates to the military academies from Senators Collins and King (note some students received a nomination to more than one academy): United States Naval Academy- Annapolis Name Home Town High School Laura Broderick Kennebunkport Kennebunk High School Emily Cox Topsham Mount Ararat High School Tyler Davidson South Berwick Marshwood High School Angus Ferrell Falmouth Falmouth High School Jacob Fogel Portland Portland High School Grace Harrison Lincolnville Camden Hills Regional High School John Harrison Bar Harbor Marine Academy of Science & Technology Wyatt Hart Lebanon Noble High School Molly McAleer Orono Kents Hill School Christian O'Connor York York High School James O'Neil Orono …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-announce-maine-nominees-to-the-united-states-military-service-academies-	Senators Collins and King Announce Maine Nominees to the United States Military Service Academies	2013-12-06	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins and King Announce Maine Nominees to the United States Military Service Academies Friday, December 6, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced their nominees to the United States Military Academies. To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes members of Congress. Admission to the United States Coast Guard Academy, also a federal service academy, does not require a congressional nomination. “We are proud to have the honor to nominate such an impressive group of Maine students to our nation’s distinguished service academies,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “The young people we have nominated have earned this honor through a commitment to strong scholarship, leadership, and character.” The following students from Maine have received nominations as candidates to the military academies from Senators Collins and King (note some students received a nomination to more than one academy): United States Naval Academy – Annapolis Name Home Town High School Laura Broderick Kennebunkport Kennebunk High School Emily Cox Topsham Mount Ararat High School Tyler Davidson South Berwick Marshwood High School Angus Ferrell Falmouth Falmouth High School Jacob Fogel Portland Portland High School Grace Harrison Lincolnville Camden Hills Regional High School John Harrison Bar Harbor Marine Academy of Science & Technology Wyatt Hart Lebanon Noble High School Molly McAleer Orono …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-send-letter-to-secretary-shinseki-supporting-continuation-of-the-arch-program-in-caribou	Senators Collins and King Send Letter to Secretary Shinseki Supporting Continuation of the ARCH Program in Caribou	2013-12-06	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins and King Send Letter to Secretary Shinseki Supporting Continuation of the ARCH Program in Caribou Friday, December 6, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Ranking Member of the Aging Committee and one of the top Republicans on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Angus King have sent a letter to Secretary Eric Shinseki of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which requests that the VA indefinitely extend the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) pilot program in Caribou. “Maine has one of the highest ratios in the nation of veterans to overall population, and in a large, rural state like Maine, it is critically important that the VA goes the extra mile to see that our veterans have access to and receive the treatment they need and deserve,” said Senator Collins. “For veterans in northern Maine, a one-way drive to the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta can take four hours or more to complete. Especially for our ailing and elderly veterans, such a trip can be physically taxing, painful, or detrimental to their health, and we must do all that we can to improve access to health care they receive through the VA.” “For generations, Mainers have proudly and honorably shouldered the heavy responsibility of defending our country, and as a result, our state today is home to more veterans per capita than most other states. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that we provide these men and women the highest quality care and support that our country can offer,” Senator King said. “In a rural state like Maine, however, accessing vital and deserved healthcare resources can be both physically and logistically challenging for our veterans, especially those who are disabled or elderly. That’s why it’s so important the VA continue outreach programs, like the ARCH initiative in Caribou, that bring these critical care and support services directly to their communities.” According to information prov…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20131211041035/http://www.collins.senate.gov:80/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=59705dc0-a789-436f-be18-1a8e4185c88b	Collins, King Announce Nearly $74 Million Contract Modification for Bath Iron Works	2013-12-05	2013	2013-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	web.archive.org	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works (BIW) a contract modification worth $73,913,646. This is a continuation of BIW's longstanding planning yard contracts to support the DDG-51 class destroyers and FFG-7 class frigates. The modified contract calls for BIW to provide expert design, planning, and material support services for planned and emergent availabilities for both ship classes. "We are pleased that the Navy chose to modify BIW's contract, which will allow the highly-skilled workforce at the Bath shipyard to continue to make important improvements to the ships responsible for the future of our national security," said Senators Collins and King. The work will be performed in Bath, Maine, and is expected to be completed by December 2016.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-nearly-74-million-contract-modification-for-bath-iron-works	Collins, King Announce Nearly $74 Million Contract Modification for Bath Iron Works	2013-12-05	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Announce Nearly $74 Million Contract Modification for Bath Iron Works Thursday, December 5, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works (BIW) a contract modification worth $73,913,646. This is a continuation of BIW’s longstanding planning yard contracts to support the DDG-51 class destroyers and FFG-7 class frigates. The modified contract calls for BIW to provide expert design, planning, and material support services for planned and emergent availabilities for both ship classes. “We are pleased that the Navy chose to modify BIW’s contract, which will allow the highly-skilled workforce at the Bath shipyard to continue to make important improvements to the ships responsible for the future of our national security,” said Senators Collins and King. The work will be performed in Bath, Maine, and is expected to be completed by December 2016. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-the-death-of-nelson-mandela	King Statement on the Death of Nelson Mandela	2013-12-05	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Statement on the Death of Nelson Mandela Thursday, December 5, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement today on the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela: “I join with Mainers, Americans, and people across the globe in mourning the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela. “With his passing today, the world loses one of its greatest and most revered leaders. He was a man of extraordinary character whose courage, compassion, and vision led a deeply divided South Africa out of the age of apartheid and into an age of peace. His words and deeds not only captured the hearts of his people, but inspired millions more across the world, as they still do today, to stand in abiding solidarity with one another. Indeed, Nelson Mandela embodied the finest and most noble qualities of the human spirit and he shall forever be remembered for it. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of South Africa as we share in their sorrow and mourn in their loss.” ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/state-department-decides-review-any-changes-portland-pipeline	State Department decides to review any changes for Portland Pipeline	2013-12-04	2013	2013-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement on news that the U.S. State Department has said it would review and consider any change of use for the Portland Pipeline, including the reversing of its flow. I'm glad the State Department is taking this seriously. The Portland Pipeline passes through the hearts of many Maine communities and along some of our state's most valuable natural resources, like Sebago Lake. Any change in the pipeline's useincluding the transport of Canadian tar sandsshould be reviewed closely at the federal level. While there are currently no plans to make changes, I think it's important that the State Department has said that none could go forward unchecked. In February of this year, Pingree wrote a letter signed by 17 House and Senate members asking the State Department to require a new permit and full environmental review before allowing the owners of the Portland Pipeline to reverse its flow to transport tar sands.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-king-highlights-affordable-care-act-successes-in-maine	King Highlights Affordable Care Act Successes in Maine	2013-12-02	2013	2013-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Highlights Affordable Care Act Successes in Maine Despite rocky rollout, new health care law is supporting better care practices and cost-saving measures like preventive care Monday, December 2, 2013 PORTLAND, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King joined today with a network of healthcare providers from MaineHealth, as well as a group of students from East End Community School in Portland, to promote some of the little-noted ways in which the Affordable Care Act is having a positive impact in Maine. Senator King, who supports the Affordable Care Act (ACA) but has been critical of the flawed rollout of the federal exchange website, met with representatives from Maine’s largest family of not-for-profit health care providers, MaineHealth, to discuss the marked success of the group’s Accountable Care Organization (ACO). ACOs, which are incentivized under the ACA through several programs including the Medicare Shared Savings Program, attempt to facilitate coordination and cooperation among health care providers in order to improve the quality of care and reduce unnecessary costs. Specifically, ACO arrangements provide financial incentives for providers to improve quality and reduce costs by providing the payment reform necessary to invest in improved value of care for patients. Senator King also visited East End Community School in Portland, where he observed students participate in Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0, a nationally-recognized childhood obesity prevention program aimed at increasing physical activity and healthy eating habits for students from birth to age eighteen. Let's Go! works to reach families where they live, study, work and play by focusing on six areas – school, afterschool, childcare, workplace, community and healthcare – and emphasizes a “5-2-1-0 message” (5 or more fruits and vegetables, 2 hours or less of recreational screen time, 1 hour or more of physical activity and 0 sugary drinks, more water and low fat milk a day). The Affordable Care Act invests heavily …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/oped/many-steps-needed-to-keep-people-warm-this-winter	Many steps needed to keep people warm this winter	2013-11-28	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Many steps needed to keep people warm this winter By: Senator Angus S. King, Jr. Thursday, November 28, 2013 The days are shorter, temperatures are dropping, and families across the state are preparing for the cold months ahead. As winter arrives, a large portion of Mainers’ incomes will be devoted to keeping warm. With each passing year, the cost of heating rises and for many families a higher heating bill means making difficult decisions. Families may be forced to choose between staying warm and other necessities like food or medicine. In Congress, I’ve been tackling this issue on two fronts: by working to reduce heating costs and to maintain adequate funding for programs such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Mainers who rely on heating oil are often those who must shoulder the greatest financial burden. Home heating oil is expensive, the price is volatile, and its emissions are harmful to our natural environment. That’s why I’ve been encouraging the transition away from oil, toward renewable and domestic energy sources like biomass, wind, solar, and natural gas. This year, Senator Susan Collins and I introduced legislation to promote the economic and environmental benefits of biomass thermal energy. The Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2013 amends the tax code so that thermal biomass systems receive the same tax incentives as other renewable energy technologies. Biomass systems, such as wood pellet boilers, offer a local and efficient way to generate heat, save money, and invest in our state. I know this is just a first step in helping keep people warm during the winter. As cost-saving opportunities offered by gas and alternative energy sources continue to evolve, cold winters remain a serious chall…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-the-passing-of-geneva-jean-michaud	King Statement on the Passing of Geneva “Jean” Michaud	2013-11-27	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Statement on the Passing of Geneva “Jean” Michaud Wednesday, November 27, 2013 BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King released the following statement today on the passing of Geneva “Jean” Michaud, mother of Congressman Mike Michaud: “I am saddened to learn of the passing of Jean Michaud, who by all accounts was a warm and loving woman, and whose kindness and generosity touched the lives of those fortunate to know her. “Indeed, all who knew Jean recall with great fondness her sense of humor, her love of politics and public service, and her unflagging desire to help others. Her devotion to her friends, to her community, and above all, to her beloved family is and always will be a testament to her extraordinary character. Maine has certainly lost a dear friend today. “My thoughts and prayers are with Congressman Michaud and his entire family during this difficult time.” ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20131211040322/http://www.collins.senate.gov:80/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=f506c78b-932f-427d-b41e-338cfacda0fd	Senators Collins, King Among Bipartisan Coalition Calling for Changes to FDA Proposed Rules	2013-11-26	2013	2013-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	web.archive.org	legacy	WASHINGTON, DC- In a letter sent today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) requested that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issue a second draft of regulations for public comment before issuing final Food Safety Modernization rules. In the letter, led by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), and signed by a bipartisan group of members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the coalition expressed concerns about the impact of proposed rules on farmers and businesses that an additional comment period could help alleviate. "Despite your agency's efforts to engage with stakeholders during the rulemaking process, we remain concerned about the ambiguity surrounding many aspects of these proposed rules," the letter said. The lawmakers continued, "We believe the rules as currently proposed would result in a multitude of unintended consequences that would be severely detrimental to national, regional and local agriculture. By seeking additional input through second proposed rules for public comment before final rules, we believe that producers' concerns can be addressed and unintended consequences can be greatly mitigated." The FDA recently issued two proposed rules implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), a 2011 law that overhauled food safety laws to increase the safety of our food supply. The rules address preventive controls for human food and standards for the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption. As proposed, the 1,200-page rules have left food producers and processors across the country concerned about a number of issues surrounding facility compliance, environmental standards, among others. The full text of the letter is below: November 22, 2013 The Honorable Margaret Hamburg, M.D. Commissioner U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20993 Dear Commissioner Hamburg: We appreciate the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) efforts to implement the Food Safety M…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20131211040807/http://www.collins.senate.gov:80/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=a76e6629-57da-4236-8013-75c6712ddc1b	Senator Collins Expresses Concerns About Iranian Nuclear Agreement	2013-11-25	2013	2013-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	web.archive.org	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement today regarding the nuclear agreement with Iran: "While I believe that an effective, verifiable diplomatic solution would be the best possible outcome for halting the Iranian pursuit of a nuclear weapon, I have several concerns about the plan as I continue to analyze it. "The plan does not require the Iranians to suspend enrichment as required by existing U.N. Security Council resolutions. It also apparently does not require the dismantling of centrifuges and does not deal with delivery systems. "Iran is also not required to roll back the construction of its heavy water reactor in Arak or convert this facility into a light water reactor that would be less useful for the production of the material needed for a nuclear weapon. "Given Iran's past failures to keep its commitments, I am also deeply concerned that Iran did not agree to all of the intrusive inspections that the well-respected International Atomic Energy Agency maintains are necessary to ensure that Iran is abiding by the agreement and not performing nuclear-related work at undeclared locations. "In the next weeks, the Senate will closely examine whether the Administration's plan to ease sanctions worth billions of dollars to the Iranians in exchange for this agreement is the right policy. At this point, I have many concerns about whether or not this plan is in America's best interests."	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-to-reduce-regulatory-burden-on-maine-grocery-and-convenience-stores-	King Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce Regulatory Burden on Maine Grocery and Convenience Stores	2013-11-25	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce Regulatory Burden on Maine Grocery and Convenience Stores Monday, November 25, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King, along with Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), introduced legislation last week that would free grocery stores and other covered food establishments from the regulatory burdens of a poorly interpreted menu-labeling provision within the Affordable Care Act. Specifically, the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2013 would limit the scope of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement a chain restaurant menu labeling provision mandated by the new healthcare law. Signed into law in March 2010, the Affordable Care Act includes a provision that calls for a national, uniform nutrition-disclosure standard for foodservice establishments, originally intended for restaurants. Regulations implementing this provision released in 2011 by the FDA, however, also unexpectedly incorporated grocery and convenience stores. In addition, the proposed rule created rigid requirements that pose an unreasonable burden on many businesses by requiring them to provide calorie information for whole menu items, irrespective of the number of servings in the product delivered to customers. For example, pizza establishments would have to label their pizzas per whole pie rather than per slice. Additionally, many grocery and convenience stores, including many across Maine, offer food bars that would be impacted by the proposed rule. Senator King’s bill would codify a less burdensome approach to menu-labeling by allowing covered establishments greater flexibility in providing calorie information. Under the bill, covered establishments could present calorie information through one of several approaches, including: for the whole product the number of servings and the number of calories per serving the number of calories per the common unit of division “Grocers, restaurants, and food providers across Maine are already struggl…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/article/our-view-filibuster-reform-right-move-for-senate	Our View: Filibuster reform right move for Senate	2013-11-23	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Our View: Filibuster reform right move for Senate Most Americans want action, not dysfunction, from Washington. By: Press Herald Editorial Board Saturday, November 23, 2013 If there was a single issue that really mattered in the last U.S. Senate race in Maine, it was anger over the dysfunction in Washington. Independent Angus King ran on a promise to work with both parties, and to challenge the rules of the Senate that give a minority of senators the ability to stop the other branches of government from doing their jobs. Pundits said that you can’t build a campaign around “process” instead of policy, but King won with 53 percent of the vote, no mean trick for a non-party candidate in a three-way race. Maine voters got what they asked for Thursday when King voted with most Democrats to change the Senate rules to allow an up-or-down vote for every executive branch appointment and judicial nomination for courts other than the Supreme Court. This has been described as a “nuclear” attack, a “naked power grab” by Democrats that jettisons centuries of tradition. But it’s not. It is a much-needed correction for an institution that was not functioning. With congressional approval ratings in the single digits, this was no time to stick with business as usual. It’s not surprising that most of the criticism comes from Republican senators, who say this will change the way the body has operated for centuries. “This is contrary to not only the long-standing rules of the Senate but our traditions of respecting minority (party) rights,” said Maine Sen. Susan Collins. But it is what the Republicans have been doing in the Senate over the last four-and-a-half years that is the real aberration, and the new Senate …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-135000-for-damariscotta-mills-fish-ladder-restoration-project-	Collins, King Announce $135,000 for Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration Project	2013-11-23	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Announce $135,000 for Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration Project Saturday, November 23, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Nobleboro Historical Society has been awarded a $135,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support the Final Phase of the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration project. “Fish ladders play an indispensable role maintaining the balance of our marine ecosystem as well as the health of our lakes, rivers, and streams,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “This grant will help support our fishing communities by strengthening the local food chains that they depend on. Enabling alewives, and other feeder fish, to access spawning grounds is an important step in that process. We are pleased to support the community effort to restore and improve this historic fish ladder. It is a wonderful local attraction where families from all over Maine can experience one of nature’s most spectacular events when the fish run every spring.” ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/50th-anniversary-kennedy-assassination	50th Anniversary of Kennedy Assassination	2013-11-22	2013	2013-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement on the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. "For those of us who are old enough to remember the shooting, we will be thinking about where we were when we heard President Kennedy hadbeen shot. But for everyonewhether you were alive then or nottoday is a chance to reflect on the vision that President Kennedy had for the country he loved so much. President Kennedy believed in public investment in education, research and health care. He believed in public service, especially for young people. And he believed that we all have a role in ending poverty and helping those who need help the most."	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20131211040802/http://www.collins.senate.gov:80/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7631ed38-450e-4db5-89d0-aaaa397bc556	E-Newsletter: November 21, 2013	2013-11-22	2013	2013-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	web.archive.org	legacy	Alzheimer's Disease: An Urgent National Priority Citing the devastating emotional and economic toll that Alzheimer's disease takes on more than five million Americans and their families, Senator Collins, along with Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, introduced a bipartisan Senate Resolution declaring that the goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer's by 2025 is an "urgent national priority." Consider the following: More than five million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, more than double the number in 1980. Based on current projections, as many as 16 million Americans over the age of 65 will have Alzheimer's disease by 2050. Alzheimer's costs the United States more than $200 billion a year--including $142 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid alone--yet only about $500 million is allocated to Alzheimer's research funding annually to improve treatment and find a cure. If nothing is done to slow or stop the disease, the Alzheimer's Association estimates that Alzheimer's will cost the United States an astonishing $20 trillion over the next 40 years. The resolution, which was introduced during Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, recognizes that dramatic increases in research funding are necessary to meet the 2025 goal and urges Congress to double the amount of funding the United States spends on Alzheimer's research in 2015, as well as develop a plan to meet the target of $2 billion a year as recommended by the experts of the federal Alzheimer's Advisory Council. Watch Senator Collins' speech from the Senate floor: (Click the play button above to view the video) The resolution has been endorsed by the Alzheimer's Association and USAgainstAlzheimer's, two leading national advocacy groups. (Click the letters above to read them) The Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter also applauded Senator Collins' efforts: "The Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter is so appreciative of Senator Collins for her leadership on this issue. We estimate that more than 37,000 Maine fam…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/this-week-in-washington-filibuster-reform-ndaa-and-sec-hagels-visit-to-biw	This Week in Washington: Filibuster Reform, NDAA, and Sec. Hagel’s visit to BIW	2013-11-22	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	This Week in Washington: Filibuster Reform, NDAA, and Sec. Hagel’s visit to BIW Friday, November 22, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his ongoing effort to keep people at home up to date with his work in the Senate, U.S. Senator Angus King took a few minutes to highlight this week’s events in Washington. In his recap, Senator King discussed: - His recent vote in support of filibuster reform, which reflects his belief that judicial and executive nominees, excluding Supreme Court nominees, deserve an up-or-down vote in the Senate regardless of what party is in the majority or controls the White House. - His work on the National Defense Authorization Act, which contains several provisions designed to support Maine’s shipbuilding and footwear industries. - Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s visit to BIW, following invitations from Senator King and Senator Collins. The full video of Senator King’s weekly recap can be viewed below. A broadcast quality version of the video can also be downloaded here. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/sec-hagel-visits-bath-iron-works	Sec. Hagel Visits Bath Iron Works	2013-11-21	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Thursday, November 21, 2013 Sec. Hagel Visits Bath Iron Works On Thursday, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel visited Bath Iron Works to witness firsthand the shipyard's immeasurable value and significant contributions to our Navy and national defense. The men and women at BIW are among the finest shipbuilders in the world. Their commitment to excellence and dedication to building the highest quality ships is unparalleled. While visiting the facility, Sec. Hagel had an opportunity to tour the recently launched USS Zumwalt, the first DDG-1000. Department of Defense photos of his tour can be viewed here. For more information see below: Hagel Visits First Zumwalt-class Destroyer By Karen Parrish American Forces Press Service BATH, Maine, Nov. 21, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the not-yet-launched Zumwalt-class destroyer he toured here today “represents the cutting edge of our naval capabilities.” The ship, now known as the Pre-Commissioning Unit, or PCU, Zumwalt, will become the USS Zumwalt, named for former Navy Adm. Elmo Zumwalt. Officials said the ship is about a year away from joining the fleet. Now littered with large protective crates storing systems not yet installed, the ship is being fitted with new automated systems. The Zumwalt, Navy officials explained, has highly accurate long-range weapons, an impressive power generation capability and a design emphasizing “stealthy” radar-defeating materials and shapes. The ship will be home ported in San Diego, Hagel noted, and it “represents an important shift … in America’s interests to the Asia-Pacific,” he told a mixed crowd of sailors, government civilians and General Dynamics employees assembled near where the ship is docked. Hagel thanked General Dynamics and its workforce at Bath Iron Works, which will produce all three of the Zumwalt-class ships planned for production. The secretary called the facility “a magnificent institution that’s been part of the security of t…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/staying-warm-this-winter	Staying Warm this Winter	2013-11-21	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Thursday, November 21, 2013 Staying Warm this Winter by Senator Angus King The days are shorter, temperatures are dropping, and families across the state are preparing for the cold months ahead. As winter arrives, a large portion of Mainers’ incomes will be devoted to keeping warm. With each passing year, the cost of heating rises and for many families a higher heating bill means making difficult decisions. Families may be forced to choose between staying warm and other necessities like food or medicine. In Congress, I’ve been tackling this issue on two fronts: by working to reduce heating costs and to maintain adequate funding for programs such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Mainers who rely on heating oil are often those who must shoulder the greatest financial burden. Home heating oil is expensive, the price is volatile, and its emissions are harmful to our natural environment. That’s why I’ve been encouraging the transition away from oil, towards renewable and domestic energy sources like biomass, wind, solar, and natural gas. This year, Senator Susan Collins and I introduced legislation to promote the economic and environmental benefits of biomass thermal energy. The Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2013 amends the tax code so that thermal biomass systems receive the same tax incentives as other renewable energy technologies. Biomass systems, such as wood pellet boilers, offer a local and efficient way to generate heat, save money, and invest in our state. I know this is just a first step in helping keep people warm during the winter. As cost-saving opportunities offered by gas and alternative energy sources continue to evolve, cold winters remain a serious challenge for our state’s most vulnerable families. In the face of persistently high energy prices, it is essential that we have in place adequate home heating safety nets for who need them mos…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-vote-to-alter-filibuster-rule	King Statement on Vote to Alter Filibuster Rule	2013-11-21	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Statement on Vote to Alter Filibuster Rule Thursday, November 21, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement today after voting in support of a rule change that alters the filibuster to allow for a majority vote threshold on executive and judicial nominations, except those to the Supreme Court: “I entered the Senate with significant concern for the way the filibuster was being continually, and in my belief, inappropriately, used to stall judicial and executive nominations and prevent legislation from moving forward. Over the past eleven months in office, and despite several earlier informal agreements brokered to ameliorate the problem, I believe the abuse of the filibuster has only grown worse, most recently with repeated partisan objections to a series of the President’s nominees to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. “It is important to me to go back to the language of the Constitution on this question. Article II, Section 2, defines the President’s power to enter into treaties, make executive and judicial nominations, and identifies the role of the Senate in this process. Significantly, this provision specifies that the President’s power to enter into treaties must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate, while in the same sentence, no such super-majority requirement is imposed in connection with presidential appointments. I believe that today’s action is more fully consistent with the terms of the Constitution than the previous extra-Constitutional practice which imposed a super-majority requirement for these nominations. “My support of the rule change was not an easy decision to reach, but it reflects my belief that these nominees deserve an up-or-down vote by the Senate, regardless of which party is in the majority or which party controls the White House, and that a structural adjustment was necessary in order for that to occur and for the Senate to function better as an institution. It is important to underscore that…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-welcome-defense-secretary-to-bath-iron-works	Senators Collins, King Welcome Defense Secretary to Bath Iron Works	2013-11-21	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins, King Welcome Defense Secretary to Bath Iron Works Thursday, November 21, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today welcomed U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to Bath Iron Works. Both Senator Collins and Senator King extended invitations to Secretary Hagel to visit all defense facilities in Maine, including BIW, during his confirmation process earlier this year. Unfortunately, due to Senate consideration of the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization bill, neither Senator was able to accompany Secretary Hagel on his visit. “I am delighted that Secretary Hagel has accepted our invitation to see our nation's finest shipyard, and I know he will be impressed with the work of the dedicated men and women of Bath Iron Works,” said Senator Collins. “BIW remains an extraordinary asset to the Navy, and I am pleased that Secretary Hagel will have the opportunity for a first-hand look at the ongoing shipyard programs, including a tour of the very first DDG-1000. While I regret that official Senate business prevents me from accompanying the Secretary, I am confident that he will see the exceptional skill and experience of BIW's workers and the tremendous efficiencies in the yard that reap benefits for the Navy and the taxpayers.” “I am pleased to join Senator Collins in welcoming Secretary Hagel to Maine and to Bath Iron Works, and regret that I could not personally accompany him on his tour due to ongoing work in the Senate,” Senator King said. “The Secretary's visit comes at an important time for the shipyard as it completes its work on the cutting-edge DDG-1000, and I have no doubt that during his tour he will come to witness firsthand the shipyard's immeasurable value, its significant contributions to our Navy and national defense, as well as its world-class workforce, all of whom are committed to building noth…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-announces-100000-farm-school-grant-kennebec-county-organization	Pingree announces $100,000 Farm to School grant for Kennebec County organization	2013-11-19	2013	2013-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Funds will help Maine schools overcome barriers to purchasing food locally Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that Healthy Communities of the Capital Area in Kennebec County will receive a $100,000 Farm to School grant from the USDA. Maine schools today want to buy more food locally, but there aren't many systems in place to help them do it easily. This investment will help fund innovative efforts to help schools overcome those barriers, said Pingree. Maine schools have shown such an incredible commitment to supporting local farmers and connecting students with the food they eatand the results have been strengthened economies and healthier school meals. I'm excited that Healthy Communities of the Capital Area has this opportunity to help strengthen and expand those impacts. The K-12 Eating Local Foods project aims to develop systems to better link local farms to schools. The two-year project will streamline ordering, delivery, and processing through links to existing online local food buying clubs. The project will also develop a local purchasing guide that includes contacts, product availability, sample contracts, and food safety protocol. Healthy Communities of the Capital Area is a Healthy Maine Partnership. Attached is a copy of the letter Pingree wrote to support the grant application. In a recent survey by the USDA, 85 percent of Maine schools said they participate in Farm to School efforts, which included buying locally, serving food from school gardens, and bringing farmers into the classroom. The participation rate is one of the highest in the nation. The results are at http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census#/state/me. Pingree's package of reforms to the Farm Billthe Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Actincludes a provision to help schools purchase more food locally by allowing them to use a portion of their commodity funding to do so.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/article/mt-ararat-makes-textbooks-real-with-capitol-class	Mt. Ararat makes textbooks real with ‘Capitol Class’	2013-11-19	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Mt. Ararat makes textbooks real with ‘Capitol Class’ By: Darcie Moore Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Teaching students the structure of the nation’s government, teacher Sewall Janeway said he tries to make class special every year by finding a way to make textbook material come alive. That is why he contacted U.S. Sen. Angus King’s office in September. King “came to” Mt. Ararat High School on Nov. 7 with a virtual appearance via Skype — the online video-conferencing service. Recently, seniors in both Advanced Placement government classes gathered in the high school’s Learning Commons — formerly the library, now transformed into a place that now combines the library and technology experience — to pepper King with questions about governance. King answered, the conversation was recorded on both ends, and the exchange is now posted on YouTube where the two video streams play side-by-side. It is a program King does called “Capitol Class.” Thus far, Janeway said, Mt. Ararat is one of only a few schools to participate. Students asked King several questions, ranging from the difference between the jobs of governor and senator; the challenges and opportunities he’s faced as an independent in a partisan Congress; how many bills he’s sponsored and that process; how he was appointed to committees — Armed Services, Budget, Rules and Intelligence; and to weigh in on the direction of the Affordable Care Act and campaign finance. Isabella Leon of Harpswell said, “Every class we start out talking about the current events ... so we get a good sense of what’s happening, and then relate it to what we’re studying about the government.” The class has studied Congress and the presidency and just studied the Supreme Court. “I’m really happy we’…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/11-19-13-sen-king-on-the-takeaway	11-19-13 Sen. King on "The Takeaway"	2013-11-19	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content 11-19-13 Sen. King on "The Takeaway"	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-chellie-pingree-announces-10-million-investment-bath	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announces $10 million investment in Bath assisted living facility	2013-11-18	2013	2013-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Federal loans will allow Plant Home to new facility that will more than double capacity Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that the Plant Home in Bath will be getting $10 million in federal funding to build a new, 50,000-square-foot facility to provide assisted living facilities for seniors in the Midcoast area. "We all age and we all get older, but not everyone can stay in the home they've lived in," Pingree said. "That's why it's so important to have a place like the Plant Home, where you can get care when you need it in your community, around people you know and near your family." The funding, a combination of a direct loan and a federal guaranteed loan, comes from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development Administration. "USDA Rural Development has a strong commitment to supporting essential community facilities like the Plant Home because of the impact they have on our rural Maine communities. They create construction jobs, additional staff positions and, most importantly, benefit the lives of our rural residents in very meaningful ways like expanding quality, affordable senior housing," said Virginia Manuel, Maine USDA Rural Development State Director. This critical funding will assist the historic Plant Memorial Home in the construction of a 50,000-square-foot addition with 45 units of quality senior care. This more than doubles the facility's capacity to assist the area's aging population, as they currently have 37 units. The Plant Memorial home was constructed in 1917 and its mission is to deliver to its residents, regardless of their ability to pay, the highest quality independent elder housing and assisted living services, professionally, compassionately, and efficiently; and to support community involvement in the Midcoast Maine area. "This is the culmination of a community working together. We've been working on this project for five years and have had tremendous support from the entire community," said Don Capoldo, Executive Director of the Plant…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-and-rockefeller-urge-hospital-physician-support-for-medicare-drug-savings-act	KING AND ROCKEFELLER URGE HOSPITAL, PHYSICIAN SUPPORT FOR MEDICARE DRUG SAVINGS ACT	2013-11-18	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	KING AND ROCKEFELLER URGE HOSPITAL, PHYSICIAN SUPPORT FOR MEDICARE DRUG SAVINGS ACT Legislation proposed as a permanent way to pay for “Doc fix” Monday, November 18, 2013 WASHINGTON D.C.— Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Chairman of the Health Care Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Angus King (I-ME), are asking more than 65 physician, provider, and hospital groups for their support of the Medicare Drug Savings Act which provides a path to permanently fix the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). These groups stand to benefit the most from a stable reimbursement system, which is why Senators Rockefeller and King have asked for their support in urging other Senators to vote to return to the pharmaceutical payment system which existed before Medicare Part D was enacted 10 years ago. “Year after year, it has not been how to reconfigure the Medicare payment system that has stymied progress but the failure to identify a way to pay for these changes. This year may finally be different,” Rockefeller and King wrote. “The Medicare Drug Savings Act is a sensible way to pay for replacing the SGR. It would return drug pricing for the dual eligibles to the same mechanism that was used prior to the passage of Part D and still for the Medicaid program, a mechanism that would not harm patients, doctors or hospitals in any way. With this simple change we can finally move beyond the SGR and create needed certainty and stability for both physicians and hospitals.” To read a sample letter, please click here and full text of the letter is below. A comprehensive list of groups the Senators contacted is available upon request. In late October, Rockefeller recommended to his colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee that the Medicare Drug Savings Act be used to pay for the so-called “Doc fix”, as it would save $141.2 billion over ten years – a savings that could fully pay for the permanent SGR fix. The Medicare Drug Savings Act restores discount pricing on m…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/oped/alternative-web-sites-provide-information-about-insurance-plans-under-aca_read-more-st-john-valley-times---column-alternative-web-sites-provide-information-about-insurance-plans-under-aca-	Alternative Web sites provide information about insurance plans under ACA Read more: St. John Valley Times - COLUMN Alternative Web sites provide information about insurance plans under ACA	2013-11-16	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Alternative Web sites provide information about insurance plans under ACA Read more: St. John Valley Times - COLUMN Alternative Web sites provide information about insurance plans under ACA By: Senator Angus S. King, Jr. Saturday, November 16, 2013 Millions of Americans across the country have expressed their frustrations with the new healthcare Web site. I count myself among those who are disappointed with the President’s rollout of the Affordable Care Act. The failure to create a functioning Web site to provide people with the necessary information and resources to enroll in new insurance plans is inexcusable. Furthermore, it has left a large number of folks in the uncomfortable position of losing their existing plans, while unable to learn about new options available to them. That is why I supported the President’s one year delay on the expiration of existing plans that had previously been canceled because they do not meet the ACA’s standards. His proposal will allow people more time to consider their options while continuing their current coverage. However, despite problems with the new healthcare law’s implementation, it’s important to keep in mind that the purpose of the law is to offer higher quality health insurance to more people at a more affordable price. A goal that I still believe marks a step in the right direction for our country. Every year, too many lives are lost from a lack of healthcare insurance - taking an unbearable toll on our communities and the strength of our economy. So as the White House works to resolve problems with healthcare.gov, I am encouraging people to access information about available insurance plans under the ACA through alternative resources. For example, TheHeathSherpa.com allows visitors…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/administration-agrees-extend-comment-period-new-food-safety-rules	Administration agrees to extend comment period on new food safety rules	2013-11-15	2013	2013-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Comments were to end today, Congresswoman Pingree urged delay because of website problems Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to her request to extend the comment period for new proposed food safety rules that could have a big impact on small and medium sized farms. The comment period had been scheduled to close today, but FDA has agreed to extend it by a week to November 22. "I've talked to plenty of farmers and consumers who want to weigh in on these rules, but because of problems with the FDA website, somepeople haven't been able to make their voices heard," Pingree said. Pingree, along with ten of her colleagues, wrote to the FDA this week asking for a one-week extension in the comment period. Pingree has been critical of the proposed food safety rules and how they will apply to smaller, diversified farms like the ones we have in Maine. "One-size-fits-all regulations will put New England farmers out of business. The size of regulation must match the amount of risk, and the loss of hundreds of farms cannot be an unintended consequence of the food safety rules," Pingree said at an FDA hearing this summer. Go here for more information about the rules and links to submit comments.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/this-week-in-washington-judicial-nominations-budget-proposal-and-ndaa	This Week in Washington: Judicial Nominations, Budget Proposal, and NDAA	2013-11-15	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Friday, November 15, 2013 This Week in Washington: Judicial Nominations, Budget Proposal, and NDAA	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/this-week-in-washington-judicial-nominations-budget-proposal-and-ndaa	This Week in Washington: Judicial Nominations, Budget Proposal, and NDAA	2013-11-15	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	This Week in Washington: Judicial Nominations, Budget Proposal, and NDAA Friday, November 15, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his continued effort to keep folks at home up to date with his work in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus King took a few minutes to discuss the events of this past week in the nation’s capital. In his weekly recap, Senator King addressed: His frustration with recent Republican filibusters that have prevented the confirmation of judicial nominees to the D.C. District Court of Appeals. The National Defense Authorization Act, which the Senate is expected to take up next week, and which also contains several important priorities for Maine’s shipbuilding and footwear industries. The full video of Senator King’s weekly recap can be viewed below. A broadcast quality version of the video can also be downloaded here. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-presidents-decision-to-allow-insurers-to-renew-canceled-health-insurance-plans	King Statement on President’s Decision to Allow Insurers to Renew Canceled Health Insurance Plans	2013-11-14	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Statement on President’s Decision to Allow Insurers to Renew Canceled Health Insurance Plans Thursday, November 14, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement today after President Obama announced that he would be directing his Administration to pursue an administrative fix to the Affordable Care Act that will allow health insurance companies to renew plans that do not meet the standards set forth by the new law: “I have been disappointed by the Administration’s flawed rollout of the Affordable Care Act, particularly its failure to create a functional website the problems with which are now preventing Mainers and Americans from finding and enrolling in new health insurance plans. “I have also been troubled by the stories of people receiving health insurance cancellation notices. The fact is that President Obama reassured Americans with a simple and straightforward promise: if they liked their health insurance plan, they could keep it. That assurance, however, was clearly not accurate, which is why I am pleased that he took a step today to fully honor his promise. I agree with his decision to pursue an administrative fix that will allow individuals the opportunity to stay on their existing plans for an additional year while they explore new options once the website issues are resolved. It will allow people more time to consider their options while continuing their current coverage. “It’s important to keep in mind that the entire goal of the Affordable Care Act is to offer higher quality health insurance to more people at a more affordable price, and I will work with my colleagues in pursuit of that.” ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/article/angus-king-proposes-budget-compromise	Angus King proposes budget compromise	2013-11-13	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Angus King proposes budget compromise By: Erik Wasson Wednesday, November 13, 2013 Sen. Angus King (I-Maine.) on Wednesday floated a compromise proposal to the new House-Senate budget conference committee on which he serves. The King plan seeks to strike a balance between entitlement cuts, tax loophole closing and tax rate reduction to get both Democrats and Republicans onboard. The proposal would replace half of the next eight years of sequester cuts while also lowering the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 32.5 percent. Budget conference chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said only that he welcomed suggestions from all panelists, when King referenced the plan in brief remarks during the second meeting of the budget panel on Wednesday. So far the group has been at logger-heads over whether any tax revenue would be included in a two-year sequester-replacement deal. The King plan replaces $455 billion of sequestration with $200 billion in new revenue and $255 billion in entitlement reforms. The initial plan does not specify which tax breaks or which entitlement benefits would be cut. Additional revenue from the tax loopholes would be used to lower the corporate tax rate and to create a $50 billion infrastructure stimulus fund. The remaining sequester would be changed under the King plan using a method known as "smoothing" which would lower the growth of spending in out years in order to pay for bumping up near term cuts. King told reporters that the economy is too weak now to allow sequestration in ther near term. "This is not the time to be creating a headwind for the economy. The very best way to reduce the deficit is to foster economic growth," he said. He said the plan should work because "t…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-urge-american-airlines-us-airways-to-consider-impact-of-merger-on-maine-airports-and-communities	Collins, King Urge American Airlines, US Airways to Consider Impact of Merger on Maine Airports and Communities	2013-11-13	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Urge American Airlines, US Airways to Consider Impact of Merger on Maine Airports and Communities Wednesday, November 13, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Angus King today urged the heads of American Airlines and US Airways to consider the potential impact that any reduction in service caused by the airlines’ proposed merger might have on small- and medium-sized airports in Maine and on the economies of local communities. “Maintaining direct access between small- and medium-sized communities and our nation’s capital is important for facilitating commerce and tourism for residents, businesses, and visitors,” Senators Collins and King wrote. “As you conduct your review, we urge you to make the process transparent and to evaluate the consequences of slot divestiture on the economies of small- and medium-sized communities, like the Cities of Bangor and Portland, and the surrounding regions of Maine.” Earlier today, it was announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has reached an agreement with the airlines that would allow the proposed merger to proceed as long as the airlines divested certain takeoff and landing slots. Senators Collins and King have repeatedly urged federal and private officials to closely and carefully review the impact that a merger would have on Maine airports, particularly Portland International Jetport and Bangor International Airport. The complete text of the Senators’ letter is below: Mr. Thomas W. Horton Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President AMR Corporation P.O. Box 619616 Dallas Fort Worth Airport, TX 75261-9616 Mr. W. Douglas Parker Chairman and Chief Executive Officer US Airways Group, Inc. 111 West Rio Salado Parkway Tempe, AZ 85281 Dear Mr. Horton and Mr. Parker, We are writing to express our concern about the potential reduction in service to small- and medium-sized airports as a consequence…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-offers-budget-proposal-to-conference-committee	King Offers Budget Proposal to Conference Committee	2013-11-13	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Offers Budget Proposal to Conference Committee Wednesday, November 13, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the second public meeting of the Budget Conference Committee today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) offered his colleagues a preliminary proposal to mitigate the impact of sequestration and to promote economic growth. “As members of the Budget Conference Committee, we not only have a tremendous opportunity, but an obligation, to work together to reach a budget agreement that sets our country on a path to fiscal stability. For far too long, Congress has acted irresponsibly with its budgeting process. It’s time that we actually put together a plan that will instill certainty and confidence into our economy and show the American people we can still govern,” Senator King said. “The proposal I introduced today will most likely not be the final answer, but with only a month to go before the committee reaches its deadline, my plan is intended to be a contribution to the discussion that will be taking place over the next several weeks. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the committee, hearing their thoughts, and finding a path forward.” The “Grande” plan – a reference to Starbuck’s middle-sized drink – is intended to be a middle-of-the-road, compromise plan that would alleviate roughly half of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-2021 sequester, which amounts to approximately $455 billion, over the course of eight years. The sequester relief would be paid for with $200 billion in revenues generated by closing corporate tax loopholes and $255 billion in savings generated from entitlement reforms. The plan raises more than $525 billion in new revenues over ten years by closing corporate tax loopholes. More than half of the new revenue raised would be dedicated to federal corporate tax rate reduction, bringing the rate down from 35 percent to roughly 32.5 percent. The remaining portion is dedicated to raising the sequester caps implemented by the Budget Control Act, and puttin…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-recommends-temporary-alternative-to-healthcaregov	King Recommends Temporary Alternative to Healthcare.gov	2013-11-12	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Recommends Temporary Alternative to Healthcare.gov Tuesday, November 12, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King is recommending the website TheHealthSherpa.com as a temporary alternative for those experiencing difficulties with Healthcare.gov. The site, created by George Kalogeropoulos, Ning Liang and Michael Wasser of San Francisco, California, allows users to quickly and easily compare healthcare plans covered under the Affordable Care Act in the 34 states without existing marketplace websites, including Maine. Plans cannot be purchased through the HealthSherpa site itself, but users are directed to private insurance sites or offered telephone numbers to call to enroll. “HealthSherpa offers a user-friendly platform to quickly browse through available health insurance plan options, including monthly premium costs, coverage plans, and possible premium subsidies,” Senator King said. “I recommend that Mainers who are having trouble with Healthcare.gov use HealthSherpa as a temporary alternative until the federal website functions properly.” http://www.thehealthsherpa.com/ ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-honors-service-men-and-women-in-observance-of-veterans-day	King Honors Service Men and Women in Observance of Veterans Day	2013-11-11	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Honors Service Men and Women in Observance of Veterans Day Monday, November 11, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In observance of Veterans Day, U.S. Senator Angus King today released the following statement thanking the brave men and women of our armed forces, and those who served before them, for their exceptional service to our country. Veterans Day was first proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson on November 11, 1919. It is an official federal holiday that honors all of America’s veterans for their selfless courage in the face of danger and unwavering commitment to the defense of our great nation. Below is Senator King’s full statement. “For generations, the brave men and women of our armed forces have stood proudly in defense of this country. Their tireless efforts and unfailing bravery have kept us safe in times of peril. This Veterans Day, we reflect upon their service and the debt of honor that we owe them and their families. It is a time for us to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who have returned safely to our shores, and the future generations of veterans to whom we must rededicate ourselves. On battlefields from Bunker Hill to Baghdad and Kandahar, their unparalleled professionalism and selfless sacrifice exemplify the best of America: strength, loyalty, and unwavering dedication to the welfare of others. “We must also bear in mind that we remain a nation at war, and today, there are tens of thousands of service men and women serving in Afghanistan and other places far from the safety of home. They, and the generations of Americans who have proudly worn the uniform before them, deserve the unwavering support of a grateful nation. No veteran should have to live on the streets of a country they defended. No veteran should have to endure a lengthy backlog to receive the benefits that they earned. All veterans deserve only the highest quality of care and support that our country can offer; fulfilling that promise is one of our most sacred duties.” …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/novembers-inside-maine-on-wgan-with-senator-murrary-part-1	November's Inside Maine on WGAN with Senator Murrary, Part 1	2013-11-09	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content November's Inside Maine on WGAN with Senator Murrary, Part 1	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/novembers-inside-maine-on-wgan-with-senator-portman-part-2	November's Inside Maine on WGAN with Senator Portman, Part 2	2013-11-09	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content November's Inside Maine on WGAN with Senator Portman, Part 2	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/article/senate-intelligence-committee-approves-amendment-for-some-accountabilty-when-using-lethal-force	Senate Intelligence Committee approves amendment for some accountabilty when using lethal force	2013-11-08	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senate Intelligence Committee approves amendment for some accountabilty when using lethal force By: Contributed Friday, November 8, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence approved an amendment on November 5 that would require an independent group to conduct a "red-team analysis" if the government is considering the legality or the use of targeted lethal force against a known U.S. person located outside the U.S. who is involved in international terrorism. The committee adopted the provision as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2014 Intelligence Authorization Act. The Committee approved the Authorization Act by a vote of 13-2 on Tuesday. U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) authored the amendment and introduced it first in May as S. 1035, the Targeted Strike Oversight Reform Act of 2013. "Our amendment aims to provide an additional layer of accountability within the decision-making process when the government concludes that a U.S. person is engaged in international terrorism and that lethal force against them may be necessary to prevent an attack," Senator King said. "In such a distinctive case, this amendment would ensure that an independent group (or "red team") reviews the facts and that the details of that review are shared with the Congressional Intelligence Committees. As I have said repeatedly, the executive branch should not serve as the judge, the jury and the executioner in these cases, and I believe this amendment is a vital step forward in balancing our critical national security needs with the basic constitutional rights that we cherish as Americans." Senator Rubio said, "This commonsense legislation also improves accountability and oversight of counterterrorism policy by r…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/11-8-13-the-week-in-washington-king-talks-enda-intelligence-work-and-recent-floor-remarks	11-8-13 The Week in Washington: King Talks ENDA, Intelligence Work, and Recent Floor Remarks	2013-11-08	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Friday, November 8, 2013 11-8-13 The Week in Washington: King Talks ENDA, Intelligence Work, and Recent Floor Remarks	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-defense-secretary-hagel-plans-visit-to-bath-iron-works	COLLINS, KING ANNOUNCE DEFENSE SECRETARY HAGEL PLANS VISIT TO BATH IRON WORKS	2013-11-08	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	COLLINS, KING ANNOUNCE DEFENSE SECRETARY HAGEL PLANS VISIT TO BATH IRON WORKS Friday, November 8, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C.--U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced today that U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel intends to visit Bath Iron Works during his trip to the Halifax Security Conference scheduled for November 22-24. Both Senators extended invitations to Secretary Hagel to visit defense facilities in Maine, including BIW, during his confirmation process earlier this year. "We are delighted that Secretary of Defense Hagel has accepted our invitation to visit Maine and Bath Iron Works. He will have an opportunity to meet its highly-skilled, hard-working men and women. We know the Secretary will be impressed by BIW's talented workforce and the recently launched DDG-1000, both of which are invaluable assets to U.S. national security and the Navy's mission around the world." # # #	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/this-week-in-washington-king-discusses-enda-intelligence-work-and-the-need-to-overcome-political-gridlock	This Week in Washington: King Discusses ENDA, Intelligence Work, and the Need to Overcome Political Gridlock	2013-11-08	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	This Week in Washington: King Discusses ENDA, Intelligence Work, and the Need to Overcome Political Gridlock Friday, November 8, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a continuing effort to keep Mainers informed of his work in the nation’s capital, U.S. Senator Angus King took a few minutes to discuss the events of this past week in Washington. In his weekly recap, Senator King addressed: His recent floor speech in which he urged his colleagues to set aside political ideologies so that Congress can get back in the business of performing its most basic functions, which include passing a budget. The full video of Senator King’s weekly recap can be viewed below. A broadcast quality version of the video can also be downloaded here. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fema-preliminary-flood-insurance-rate-maps-cumberland-and-york-counties	FEMA Preliminary flood insurance rate maps for Cumberland and York Counties	2013-11-07	2013	2013-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	As part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's nationwide program to modernize Flood Insurance Rate Maps, new Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for York and Cumberland Counties were released on November 5, 2013, and are now available online. Additionally, there will be meetings with community officials and a 90-day comment/appeal period which is expected to take place over the late winter and early spring of 2014 to present and review the maps. Property owners have the right to appeal FEMA's findings concerning any changes to flood zones. Flood hazard maps, also known as Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps, indicate whether properties are in areas of high, moderate or low flood risk. Many property owners may find that their risk of flooding is higher or lower than they thought. If the risk level for a property changes, so may the requirement to carry flood insurance. To look at the new preliminary flood maps, please click here - FEMA Map Service Center. Click here for more information on Adoption of Flood Insurance Rate Maps by Participating Communities. For information on the appeal process, go here - Criteria for Appeals of Flood Insurance Rate Maps.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-press-national-park-service-on-decision-to-end-relationship-with-local-acadia-concessions-company	Collins, King Press National Park Service on Decision to End Relationship with Local Acadia Concessions Company	2013-11-07	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Press National Park Service on Decision to End Relationship with Local Acadia Concessions Company Thursday, November 7, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King pressed the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) to provide answers concerning NPS’s recent decision to select a new, out-of-state concessioner at Acadia National Park. Maine-based The Acadia Corporation (Acadia Corp.) has for the past 80 years provided concessions within the park. “We are writing regarding the announcement by the National Park Service (‘NPS’) that a new concessioner has been selected at Acadia National Park (‘Acadia’ or ‘ANP’) and to bring to your attention what we believe are serious flaws in the process as well as the outpouring of opposition we have heard from hundreds of constituents in Maine in response to the selection,” Senators Collins and King wrote. “Serious questions have been raised about the review process and the criteria used by NPS in making the decision, which led to the selection of an out-of-state concessioner. As you review the selection decision by the regional office, we request that you fully evaluate the many serious concerns that have been raised about the selection process.” Specifically, Senators Collins and King expressed serious concern with the process undertaken by NPS to arrive at the decision to end the contract with Acadia Corp., and asked that an independent review be conducted to reevaluate the selection process. Additionally, the Senators requested that NPS provide answers to the following questions: Why was Acadia Corp.’s long-standing and exemplary experience as a concessionaire at Acadia not considered? Why was the perspective of a technical advisor from Acadia National Park not considered by the panel during the five-day selection process? How will NPS re-evaluate the selection process to ensure fairness and transparency? “We are deeply troubled by the process that the NPS employed…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-announces-funding-to-support-healthcare-access-in-maine	King Announces Funding to Support Healthcare Access in Maine	2013-11-07	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Announces Funding to Support Healthcare Access in Maine Thursday, November 7, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Maine $993,125 in federal funding under the Affordable Care act to support two new healthcare centers. Katahdin Valley Health Center in Patten was awarded $301,458 and Penobscot Community Health Center in Bangor was awarded $691,997. It is estimated that the grants will help these two facilities serve an additional 4,410 patients in the surrounding communities. “This is welcomed news for Maine and our network of regional healthcare providers,” Senator King said. “Community-based health centers play a key role in delivering high quality healthcare services to areas that have historically been underserved. With these additional funds, we come one step closer to fulfilling the promise of affordable healthcare to those who need it most.” For more information about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services visit www.hhs.gov.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-praises-passage-of-employment-non-discrimination-act	King Praises Passage of Employment Non-Discrimination Act	2013-11-07	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Praises Passage of Employment Non-Discrimination Act Thursday, November 7, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today praised the bipartisan passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The legislation will provide all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, with basic protections against workplace discrimination. It passed by a vote of 64-32. “The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is the next step in this country’s long movement toward ensuring basic civil rights protections for all of its citizens,” said Senator King. “For far too long, LGBT individuals across the country have experienced harassment or lost their jobs simply because of who they are. ENDA will bring an end to these discriminatory practices by extending basic employment protections to millions of American employees, ensuring that individuals will be judged on the basis of their talent, skills, and experience, rather than sexual orientation or gender identity. Today’s vote marks a step forward for human rights and a step forward for America.” Twenty-nine states currently have no legislation that bans employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and 33 states are without protections for gender identity. Maine is not one of these states. Maine’s civil rights law that prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, credit, and public accommodation based on sexual orientation has been on the books since 2005. ENDA unifies the existing patchwork of state laws by extending equal federal protections to all employees across the country. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-video-conferences-with-mt-ararat-high-school	King Video Conferences with Mt. Ararat High School	2013-11-07	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Video Conferences with Mt. Ararat High School Thursday, November 7, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King yesterday held a video conference with students and teachers at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham. The video conference was part of Senator King’s “Capitol Class with Angus” outreach series, a program through which he hopes to connect with as many Maine high schools as possible over the course of his term in Washington. During their 40-minute session, Senator King spoke briefly about issues he is currently working on and answered students’ questions about what it’s like working in the U.S. Senate. “It was great to connect with students and teachers at Mt. Ararat,” said Senator King. “The quality of questions they asked as well and their level of engagement was very impressive. We discussed a variety of topics including Senate procedures, my committee work, the Affordable Care Act, and what it is like to be an Independent.” Sewall Janeway, a teacher of Government at Mt. Ararat said, “We were thrilled to have the opportunity to Skype with Senator King. Our students were extremely interested to learn about his experiences working in Washington. They listened to him talk about the relationship between the political parties, the bipartisan budget committee, his reflections on the political process, and what it is like to be an Independent in the Senate. We thank Senator King for taking the time to speak with us today.” You can watch Senator King’s full video conference below.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-urges-colleagues-to-break-through-gridlock	King Urges Colleagues to Break Through Gridlock	2013-11-06	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Urges Colleagues to Break Through Gridlock Wednesday, November 6, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today urged his colleagues to break through the gridlock and political stalemate that is preventing Congress from performing its most basic functions, including passing a budget. “This is not a speech about subject matter, it's not about global climate change or employment or the minimum wage or healthcare, but it's about whether or not this institution can function in order to confront any of those problems,” said Senator King. “Statistically, I'm told, this is the least productive Congress in American history thus far. No budget in four years, which, a budget is the basic function of any government. I understand there's been one appropriation bill out of 48 in the last several years, and the result has been a complete and total loss of confidence from the public. And that has significance. That is important because in our economy confidence is the mainspring. This is not an academic concern. I am not giving a lecture about civics. The lack of functionality of this institution is damaging the country.” “So what do we do? We have to do something, and that brings me back to where I began – at the budget conference. This budget conference is very important. This isn't one of many conferences that are going on, this is a, I don't want to say a last chance, but it is one of our last chances to show the American people we can govern. It's almost less important what's in the deal than that there be a deal. That the parties show that they can come together, that they can solve a problem…the headline, "Congress passes a budget which President signs" would electrify the country. It would be the most positive thing we could possibly do for the economy.” Watch Senator King’s full remarks below. To download broadcast-quality video, click here, and to download broadcast quality audio, click here. The full text of Senator King’s remarks, as prepared for the …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-intelligence-committee-approves-king-and-rubio-amendment-to-provide-independent-check-on-targeting-decisions	Senate Intelligence Committee Approves King & Rubio Amendment to Provide Independent Check on Targeting Decisions	2013-11-06	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senate Intelligence Committee Approves King & Rubio Amendment to Provide Independent Check on Targeting Decisions Wednesday, November 6, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence yesterday voted to approve an amendment authored by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) that would require an independent alternative analysis, commonly referred to as a “red-team analysis,” be conducted if the government is considering the legality or the use of targeted lethal force against a known U.S. person located outside the U.S. who is involved in international terrorism. The provision, which Senators King and Rubio originally introduced in May as S. 1035, the Targeted Strike Oversight Reform Act of 2013, was adopted as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2014 Intelligence Authorization Act. The Committee approved the Authorization Act by a vote of 13-2 on Tuesday. “Our amendment aims to provide an additional layer of accountability within the decision-making process when the government concludes that a U.S. person is engaged in international terrorism and that lethal force against them may be necessary to prevent an attack,” Senator King said. “In such a distinctive case, this amendment would ensure that an independent group – or ‘red team’ – reviews the facts and that the details of that review are shared with the Congressional Intelligence Committees. As I have said repeatedly, the executive branch should not serve as the judge, the jury and the executioner in these cases, and I believe this amendment is a vital step forward in balancing our critical national security needs with the basic constitutional rights that we cherish as Americans.” “I am pleased that the committee approved this measure to require an additional, independent review before the authorization of any lethal strikes against U.S. Citizens engaged in international terrorism overseas,” Senator Rubio said. “This commonsense legislation also improves accountability and oversigh…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/budget-conference-info-sheet	Budget Conference Info Sheet	2013-11-04	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Monday, November 4, 2013 Budget Conference Info Sheet What is the Budget Conference Committee? What is it supposed to do? The Budget Conference Committee is a group of 29 members of Congress tasked with ironing out the differences between the House Budget resolution, which the House passed on March 21, 2013, and the Senate Budget resolution, which the Senate passed on March 23, 2013. 22 members are from the Senate and 7 are from the House of Representatives. Under the terms of the bipartisan deal that re-opened government after the recent shutdown, the Budget Conference Committee is supposed to find agreement on one budget by December 13, 2013. This budget would provide overall funding levels for the government. FY2014 Budget Conference Committee Members House Republicans: Rep. Paul Ryan (WI) Rep. Tom Cole (OK) Rep. Tom Price (GA) Rep. Diane Black (TN) House Democrats: Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD) Rep. James Clyburn (SC) Rep. Nita Lowey (NY) Senate Republicans: Sen. Jeff Sessions (AL) Sen. Charles Grassley (IA) Sen. Mike Enzi (WY) Sen. Mike Crapo (ID) Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC) Sen. Rob Portman (OH) Sen. Pat Toomey (PA) Sen. Ron Johnson (WI) Sen. Kelly Ayotte (NH) Sen. Roger Wicker (MS) From Senate Democratic Caucus: Sen. Patty Murray (WA) Sen. Ron Wyden (OR) Sen. Bill Nelson (FL) Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI) Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT) Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) Sen. Mark Warner (VA) Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR) Sen. Chris Coons (DL) Sen. Tammy Baldwin (WI) Sen. Tim Kaine (VA) Sen. Angus King (ME) Does the budget resolution that you are currently working on establish spending levels for all federal programs? This is a good question and a common misunderstanding. The Fiscal Year 2014 Senate Budget Resolution, which I helped craft as a member of the Senate Budget Committee, passed early on March 23rd, 2013 by a vote of 50 - 49. This budget resolution sets overall spending and revenue lev…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/more-than-33-million-in-liheap-funding-released-for-maine	More Than $33 Million in LIHEAP Funding Released for Maine	2013-11-04	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	More Than $33 Million in LIHEAP Funding Released for Maine Funding will help low-income, elderly Mainers heat their homes this winter Monday, November 4, 2013 Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has released an initial $33.7 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds. Last 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 40 Senators who wrote to the Administration requesting the immediate release of these federal heating aid funds. “The LIHEAP programs assists some 8 million households nationwide; nearly 50,000 in Maine. As energy costs have increased, LIHEAP 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. I am pleased that DHHS recognized our concern and is releasing this critical funding today,” said Senator Collins who, along with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), worked to include language in the continuing resolution to fund LIHEAP at the higher Fiscal Year 2012 enacted level of $3.47 billion. Unfortunately, this funding remains subject to automatic, across the board sequestration cuts, which both Senators oppose and support addressing. “Maine’s bitterly cold winters present serious challenges for our state’s 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,” Senator King said. “I am pleased that DHHS 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.” LIHEAP is a federal grant program that provides states with annual funding to operate home energy assistance programs for low-income households. In addition …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/11-1-13-this-week-in-washington-king-discusses-budget-conference-committee	11-1-13 This Week in Washington: King Discusses Budget Conference Committee	2013-11-01	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	In his weekly recap, Senator King shared his impressions from the first public meeting of the Budget Conference Committee. He hopes that the opening statements provided by committee members during this initial gathering laid the foundation for a deal to partially replace the sequester and avoid another unnecessary government shutdown.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/11-1-13-this-week-in-washington-king-discusses-budget-conference-committee-	11-1-13 This Week in Washington: King Discusses Budget Conference Committee	2013-11-01	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Friday, November 1, 2013 11-1-13 This Week in Washington: King Discusses Budget Conference Committee	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/managing-snap-cuts-today-resisting-larger-cuts-tomorrow	Managing SNAP Cuts Today, Resisting Larger Cuts Tomorrow	2013-11-01	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Friday, November 1, 2013 Managing SNAP Cuts Today, Resisting Larger Cuts Tomorrow by Senator Angus King As members of the Farm Bill conference committee work to pass a five-year Farm Bill, one of the most contentious issues will surely be funding for SNAP and other vital nutrition programs. It’s unfortunate that in a country as wealthy as ours, we can’t seem to agree on the importance of helping our most vulnerable individuals. Though this situation will undoubtedly require compromise, the level of SNAP cuts proposed by the House of Representatives – almost $40 billion over the next decade – is simply too high. We have to remember that regardless of what happens in conference, SNAP benefits are already being cut. Starting today, the program will automatically lose $5 billion over the next year. These across-the-board cuts, which will strip $26 million in SNAP benefits for Mainers according to the Center for Budget Policy Priorities, are going to put further strain on people that are already struggling to feed themselves and their families. Just last week, I was able to see first-hand how the Cooking Matters program is making a difference when I joined one of their grocery store tours at the Hannaford in Portland. Over the course of the visit, I learned how the program helps people to find cheaper, healthier food options and make their now-reduced benefits go further. Together with Good Shepherd Food Bank, the University of New England and Healthy Maine Partnerships, Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters program empowers Maine families with the skills they need to stretch their food budgets and cook healthier meals for their families. Cooking Matters in Maine is expected to reach over 1,500 participants this year. There is always a need to help people maximize their SNAP benefits, but this work is particularly relevant today given the new wave of cuts. Despite their best efforts, progra…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/this-week-in-washington-king-discusses-budget-conference-committee	This Week in Washington: King Discusses Budget Conference Committee	2013-11-01	2013	2013-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	This Week in Washington: King Discusses Budget Conference Committee Friday, November 1, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an ongoing effort to keep folks at home up to date with his work in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus King took a few minutes to discuss the events of this past week in the nation’s capital. In his weekly recap, Senator King shared his impressions from the first public meeting of the Budget Conference Committee. He hopes that the opening statements provided by committee members during this initial gathering laid the foundation for a deal to partially replace the sequester and avoid another unnecessary government shutdown. The full video of Senator King’s weekly recap can be viewed below. A broadcast quality version of the video can also be downloaded here. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-video-conferences-with-hall-dale-middle-and-high-school	King Video Conferences with Hall-Dale Middle & High School	2013-10-31	2013	2013-10	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Video Conferences with Hall-Dale Middle & High School Thursday, October 31, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King yesterday held a video conference with students from Hall-Dale Middle & High School as part of his ongoing “Capitol Class with Angus” series. Over the course of his term in Congress, Senator King hopes to connect with as many Maine high schools as possible in order to share his experiences representing Maine in the U.S. Senate and answer their questions about today’s most pressing issues. “I was delighted to have the opportunity to connect with students and teachers at Hall-Dale this afternoon,” said Senator King. “They asked thoughtful and impressive questions that covered a variety of topics, including budget negotiations, healthcare, the Maine laptop program, and the future of energy in America. I applaud them for their interest in government and thank them for allowing me to speak with them.” Amelia Clukey, a 7th grade teacher at Hall-Dale and the one who led the student call, stated, “I appreciate an elected leader like Senator King taking time out of his busy schedule to connect with our middle and high school students back here in Maine. Students today, more than ever, need to understand our democracy as well as their role as citizens and who better to learn that from than one of our own elected leaders. This was an incredible learning opportunity our students were provided with today!” Watch Senator King’s conference below. Hall-Dale Middle School and Hall-Dale High School, located in Farmington, is part of the Kennebec Intra-District Schools (KIDS) Regional School Unit (RSU) 2 which includes the towns of Dresden, Farmingdale, Hallowell, Monmouth, and Richmond. “Capitol Class with Angus” is parts of Senator King’s larger initiative to expand constituent outreach through the use of 21st century technologies. He also employs video conferencing to connect with businesses and organizations based in Maine and to record weekly videos…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-intelligence-committee-approves-king-provision-to-designate-independent-experts-to-advise-the-foreign-intelligence-surveillance-court	Senate Intelligence Committee Approves King Provision to Designate Independent Experts to Advise the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court	2013-10-31	2013	2013-10	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senate Intelligence Committee Approves King Provision to Designate Independent Experts to Advise the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court Thursday, October 31, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today passed by a vote of 11-4 the FISA Improvements Act, which includes a bipartisan provision authored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) and cosponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) that would require the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to designate outside “Amicus Curiae” or “Friends of the Court” to provide independent perspectives and assist the court in reviewing matters that present a novel or significant interpretation of the law. Specifically, the provision authorizes the Court to consult with independent outside experts such as a special counsel or experts on privacy and civil liberties, intelligence collection, telecommunications, and any other area that may lend legal or technical expertise to the Court. The goal of the provision is to ensure the Court has access to the expertise necessary to oversee sensitive intelligence programs and safeguard the Fourth Amendment protections guaranteed by the Constitution. “There is no question that the United States must take steps to combat terrorism and other threats to our security, especially in a day and age when intelligence gathering is often our primary weapon to prevent it,” Senator King said. “At the same time, the Constitution guarantees the protection of privacy, and consequently the struggle in recent years has become how to properly balance the two. By creating a process whereby the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court can turn to independent outsiders with specific expertise in areas such as privacy or telecommunications, we will take a vital step forward in ensuring the legal and technical implications of these programs are scrutinized appropriately.” “The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is an important judici…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-intelligence-committee-passes-collins-king-amendments-to-increase-oversight-and-accountability-within-intelligence-community	Senate Intelligence Committee Passes Collins, King Amendments to Increase Oversight & Accountability within Intelligence Community	2013-10-31	2013	2013-10	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senate Intelligence Committee Passes Collins, King Amendments to Increase Oversight & Accountability within Intelligence Community Maine Senators score significant victory for improved oversight of Intelligence activities as part of reform bill Thursday, October 31, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today passed several amendments authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) that will increase oversight and accountability within our nation’s Intelligence community. Senators Collins and King are the only two Senators on the Intelligence Committee whose amendments were adopted during the Committee’s markup of legislation reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The first amendment, authored by Senator Collins and cosponsored by Senator King, would enhance the authority of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) to conduct independent oversight of the National Security Agency’s counterterrorism collection activities. “Strengthening the independent oversight provided by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board is crucial to ensuring that our nation’s counterterrorism efforts fully take into account the privacy rights of Americans, which we value so greatly,” said Senator Collins. “With the adoption of our amendment, the Board will play an increasingly important role in evaluating the implications for privacy and civil liberties of our programs to protect our nation from all acts of terrorism.” “The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board was created by Congress nearly a decade ago and this amendment strengthens its role in ensuring that our government thoroughly considers the personal privacy and civil liberties of American citizens as we continue to fight global terrorism,” Senator King said. “This provision will strengthen the PCLOB’s authority to independently assess intelligence programs through the prism of Constitutionally-guaranteed rights.” Another ame…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/article/king-cheers-red-sox-jeers-gridlock-during-video-chat	King cheers Red Sox, jeers gridlock during video chat	2013-10-30	2013	2013-10	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King cheers Red Sox, jeers gridlock during video chat Senator talks economy, healthcare during Skype session with Hall-Dale students. By: Susan McMillan Wednesday, October 30, 2013 With Game 6 of the World Series looming, U.S. Sen. Angus King apparently had baseball on his mind as he spoke with Hall-Dale Middle School students today. Asked by eighth grader Cole Lockhart what he’s doing for Maine, King said the most important thing he can do is help Maine businesses create jobs. “Trying to make Maine a better place is the whole reason I’m doing this,” King said, speaking to students in a video conference. “You don’t hit too many home runs in this business, but hopefully you hit singles and the occasional double, and in the long run it’ll help build the Maine economy.” Later, just before King signed off, another student asked who he’d root for in tonight’s World Series game. King said he’d root for the Red Sox, of course, and praised the Sox for playing together as a team and succeeding in spite of having few major stars on the roster. “Everybody’s contributing in different ways, and I think it’s a good example for us of the importance of teamwork and working together to achieve a result,” King said. That contrasted with some of King’s descriptions of Congress, particularly regarding the recent shutdown of the federal government. King, an independent, said Democrats and Republicans need to talk to each other, work together and be willing to compromise. King spent more than 30 minutes talking with the Hall-Dale students. He has video conferenced with students at several high schools since joining the Senate this year. Social studies teacher Amelia Clukey, who arranged the Skype session, said stu…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/oped/looking-ahead-to-the-budget-conference	Looking Ahead to the Budget Conference	2013-10-30	2013	2013-10	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Looking Ahead to the Budget Conference By: Senator Angus S. King, Jr. Wednesday, October 30, 2013 Like most Americans, I was deeply frustrated by the government shutdown earlier this month. I found it shameful that we spent so much time debating whether or not to perform the most basic functions of our jobs: running the government and paying our bills. That’s why I teamed up with a group of my colleagues - seven Republicans, six Democrats, and me, the Independent – to hammer out a bipartisan agreement that would end the shutdown and avert a catastrophic default on our national credit. Our initial discussions enabled the negotiation process to gain greater momentum and resulted in a compromise proposal, parts of which were adopted by the plan that ultimately reopened the government. The personal initiative, leadership, and willingness to put the good of the country ahead of party politics is what the people expect of us – to work on their behalf. The bipartisan agreement passed by Congress on October 17th also contained an important provision mandating the regular budget process, which has remained stagnated for the past seven months, move forward. Normally, each year both the House and Senate are required to pass individual budgets. Then, to bridge any disparities between the two proposals, members from both chambers are appointed to a special joint conference committee to work out those differences, pass a revised budget, and send it to the president for his signature. Unfortunately, this process hasn’t occurred for more than five years as the Senate has been unable pass its version of a budget in four years. This spring I’m proud to say we reversed that trend, and as a member of the Budget Committee, I was even able to help deve…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-outlines-priorities-for-maine-as-farm-bill-heads-to-conference	King Outlines Priorities for Maine as Farm Bill Heads to Conference	2013-10-30	2013	2013-10	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Outlines Priorities for Maine as Farm Bill Heads to Conference Wednesday, October 30, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Senate and House prepare to reconcile the differences between their two versions of the Farm Bill, U.S. Senator Angus King yesterday sent 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 funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), protections for dairy farmers, and the implementation of the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA). “Farming is a pillar of our state economy and the final provisions of this year’s Farm Bill will have a substantial impact on thousands of Mainers for years to come,” Senator King said. “I recognize that reconciling the differences between the two bills will be challenging and that compromises will be necessary, but I hope that the conference committee will consider my recommendations for the benefit of Maine.” The complete letter can be viewed by clicking here, and bullet-points of Senator King’s recommendations are below: Resist the level of SNAP cuts proposed in the House bill Make changes to the Food Safety Modernization Act to ensure that the legislation doesn’t unduly harm small and midsized farmers Maintain strong support for programs such as the Farmers Market Promotion Program and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Protect dairy farmers as we move towards a new dairy program Preserve strong conservation programs Continue to fund beginning farmers and ranchers Sustain funding for research and extension, including pest management Add at least two regional pilot projects for Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) between states to allow state inspected meat sales Allow white potatoes to be included in WIC Allow veterinarians to transport medical drugs to farms so that they can adequately…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-king-and-budget-conference-committee-begin-work	Sen. King & Budget Conference Committee Begin Work	2013-10-30	2013	2013-10	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Sen. King & Budget Conference Committee Begin Work Wednesday, October 30, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The joint Senate and House Budget Conference Committee, of which U.S Senator Angus King (I-ME) is a member, held its first public meeting today to offer opening statements and chart a path towards a bipartisan budget agreement. Following the meeting, Senator King released the following statement: “This morning’s meeting laid the foundation for a deal that could partially replace the sequester and avoid another painful and unnecessary government shutdown in January of 2014. While the scope of the potential deal may be limited, the importance of doing something is critical to rebuilding confidence within this institution. A deal that finds the right balance between new revenues from eliminating wasteful tax expenditures and savings from entitlements reforms could maintain the current downward trajectory of our deficits and would allow the nation to breathe a collective sigh of relief. The Committee has an important opportunity to work together to improve our nation’s fiscal health, and I am hopeful that we will find common ground so that we can bridge the partisan divide to make real and substantial progress for the country.” You can watch Senator King's remarks below. To download broadcast-quality video, click here, and to download broadcast quality audio, click here. A transcript of Senator King’s opening statement has been included below. “‘Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and the administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves.’ Those are the words of Abraham Lincoln in a message to Congress on December 1st, 1862, almost exactly 150 years ago. “I want to emphasize, and think the comments this morning have been wonderful, and put them together and you've got the essence of a solution, but I want to emphasize that this is a historic opportunity and responsibility. The other day after a hearing I ran into an old history profess…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-opening-of-firefighters-grant-application-period-	Senators Collins, King Announce Opening of Firefighters Grant Application Period	2013-10-30	2013	2013-10	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins, King Announce Opening of Firefighters Grant Application Period Wednesday, October 30, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that Maine's first responders can apply for Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program funds from Monday, November 4, 2013 at 8:00 AM until Friday, December 6, 2013 at 5:00 PM. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency administers the grants. These grants help fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations meet their firefighting and emergency response needs. The AFG Program helps equip these organizations with the resources necessary to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and their emergency response personnel with respect to fire and other hazards. “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides a vital source of funding for our brave career and volunteer firefighters,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “These grants help Maine's first responders preserve lives and protect property by enabling departments to obtain vehicles, purchase life-saving equipment, and access training to develop the skills necessary to better serve their communities.” Grant guidance for this program is available at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants/. FEMA's AFG help desk can be reached at (866) 274-0960, or by email at firegrants@dhs.gov. For additional information please contact Senator Susan Collins’ Augusta Constituent Service Center at (207) 622-8414 or Senator Angus King’s Augusta office at (207) 622-8292. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/uss-zumwalt-launched-bath	USS Zumwalt launched in Bath	2013-10-28	2013	2013-10	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Christening of destroyer delayed until spring because of shutdown Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said the USS Zumwalt was launched at Bath Iron Works today. The destroyer was floated off the BIW dry dock into the Kennebec River today and was tied up at the yard while work continues to complete construction. "This is a big day for the men and women of BIW who have launched the most technologically advanced ship the Navy has ever built," Pingree said. "And they did it on time and on budget. This is another reminder of why BIW is home to the best ship builders in the world." The Zumwalt is the largest destroyer the Navy has ever built, and first in its class. The ship is innovative, featuring electric propulsion and a design that makes it hard to detect on radar. Even though the ship is bigger than previous generation destroyers, it operates with a much smallercrew of 178. Pingree says the christening, or naming ceremony, will take place in the spring. "With the government shutdown it was impossible for the Navy to do what it needed to get the Zumwalt family to Bath and put on a christening ceremony," she said. The ceremony in the spring will feature the two daughters of Admiral Elmo "Bud" Zumwalt, served on destroyers in World War II and was Chief of Naval Operations under President Nixon. "Not only did Admiral Zumwalt serve bravely in combat, but as head of the Navy he fought to allow women to serve on ships and worked to overcome racial inequality in the service," Pingree said. The Zumwalt is over 600' long, about 100' longer than the current class of destoryers.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/tester-pingree-question-intelligence-director-over-security-clearance	Tester, Pingree question Intelligence Director over security clearance reversal	2013-10-24	2013	2013-10	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Lawmakers vow to continue fighting to protect survivors of sexual assault Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are demanding that the U.S. Director of National Intelligence once again eliminate a requirement that forces survivors of sexual assault in the military to declare whether they sought counseling for sexual trauma when applying for a security clearance. Tester and Pingree successfully overturned the policy in April after hearing from veterans and service members from Montana and Maine, but the government reversed course in the final version of the security clearance questionnaire released this summer. Before the change, job applicants seeking a security clearance had to list whether they had received mental health counseling as a result of a sexual assault, and if so, allow an investigator full access to their health records. Veterans and veterans' advocacy groups told Tester and Pingree the policy discouraged qualified service members from applying for important national security positions and discouraged them from getting the counseling they need. The Defense Department estimates that there may have been as many as 26,000 instances of unwanted sexual contact in 2012, with the vast majority of cases reported by women. We strongly urge you to reconsider this matter and reinstitute the explicit exemption for survivors of sexual assault, Tester and Pingree told Intelligence Director James Clapper. As you recognized in April, we need to do everything we can to support survivors of sexual assault not keep them from getting the care they need or jeopardizing their ability to provide for themselves and their families. Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) is grateful to Senator Tester and Congresswoman Pingree for their dedication to ensuring military sexual assault survivors' careers are not stunted or adversely affected because they sought counseling to cope with the assault, said Anu Bhagwati, SWAN executive director and former Marine Corps captain. SWAN has already he…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-pingree-votes-infrastructure-bill	Congresswoman Pingree votes for infrastructure bill	2013-10-23	2013	2013-10	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Pushed for provisions that would help small harbors get funding The US House passed a bipartisan bill tonight that allows the Army Corps of Engineers to develop dredging plans around the country. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree pushed for provisions that were included in the bill that will make it easier to get dredging approved for small harbors like those along the Maine Coast. "Small harbors have significant dredging needs keep them open for fishermen and recreation boaters and they just haven't gotten the funding they need for a long time. By putting more money into dredging overall and setting aside money specifically for small harbors it will be more likely that these harbors get the attention they need," Pingree said. Pingree had pushed for provisions that would increase funding levels for dredging and specifically to set aside a portion of that funding for use in small harbors. "Harbors like Yarmouth and Wells need dredging just as bigger harbor like Boston or New York," Pingree said. "But the current formula has meant that small harbors just never make the cut. This bill will change that." The bill, H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013, passed the House by a vote of 417-3. Pingree voted for the bill. Pingree also fought to include a provision that deauthorizes a disused navigation channel in Rockland Harbor. The location of the channel was making it difficult for marine business that supplies the local fishing industry to keep a barge tied to a pier that is used to load lobster bait. The channel couldn't be discontinued without Congressional action. The bill authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out its missions to develop, maintain, and support the Nation's vital port and waterways infrastructure needs, and support effective and targeted flood protection and environmental restoration needs. Historically, Congress has passed such legislation every two years to provide clear direction to the Administration and the Corps, but no bill has been signed into law sinc…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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Press releases

627 rows where state = "ME" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending

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