press: releases: 996 rows where state = "ME" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending

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996 rows where state = "ME" and year = 2015 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
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-congratulate-maine-native-receiving-nea-fellowship	Senators Collins, King Congratulate Maine Native on Receiving NEA Fellowship	2015-12-22	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Senators Collins, King Congratulate Maine Native on Receiving NEA Fellowship Posted Tue, 12/22/2015 - 13:42 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today congratulated Maine native Elisabeth Tova Bailey who has been awarded a Literature Fellowship in Creative Writing by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Along with this fellowship, Ms. Bailey will receive a $25,000 grant from the NEA.We congratulate Elisabeth on her selection for this competitive program,said Senator Collins and King in a statement.Support for our nations writers and artists by the National Endowment for the Arts benefits and enriches the lives of Americans from all walks of life. We are very pleased that the NEA has recognized the incredible work of a Maine author.Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA provides funding and support for Americanspursuingthe opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through its creative writing fellowships program, the NEA gives writers the time and space to create, revise, conduct research, and connect with readers. This years writers were selected from among 1,763 eligible applications by 23 readers and panelists. According to the NEA, less than 5percentof eligible applicants are selected.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/poliquin-calls-upon-bangor-school-department-reconsider-decision-remove	Poliquin Calls Upon Bangor School Department to Reconsider Decision to Remove Christmas Tree from Classroom	2015-12-21	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Today, after the Bangor School Department released a statement supporting the removal of a decorative Christmas tree from a classroom, Congressman Bruce Poliquin released the following statement on the matter: Displaying a decorative Christmas Tree is a longstanding tradition in our country, said Congressman Poliquin. It should not be condemned, especially in our classrooms. Our local school teachers and parents should have the ultimate say in how to run their classrooms so long as it does not pose any danger to students or the community. I find the School Departments decision baseless and completely counter to all that our Nation stands for. I recently joined a Wreaths Across America event to honor our fallen heroes. Hundreds of our fellow Mainers and thousands of volunteers work each year to lay Maine-made Christmas wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. Many tombs of our heroes are decorated with a Cross, a Star of David, or other symbols of faith. It is outrageous that a fellow Mainer cannot put a Christmas tree in a classroom for our students. Our men and women buried in Arlington National Cemetery gave their lives to protect our Nation and our way of life. We should be able to wish our fellow citizens Merry Christmas. We should be able to wish people Happy Hanukkah or to offer a holiday greeting. Eliminating safe decorations from classrooms, something we all grew up with, is going too far.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-gets-language-spending-bill-restore-pre-k-funding	Pingree gets language in spending bill to restore pre-K funding	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Pingree visiting a pre-k program in Old Orchard that has benefited from federal funding Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, was able to get $250 million in funding for pre-K programs restored to a government spending bill passed by the House this morning. The funding means over 1,500 Maine students will be able take advantage of new and expanded pre-school programs around the state. "Early childhood education is one of the smartest investments we can make, and without this funding tens of thousands of families around the country would not have access to a preschool program," Pingree said. "The evidence is clear: pre-K programs allow kids to start school on an even footing with their peers, and lead to better outcomes over the long term. It's good for students and good for communities." House and Senate leaders had cut funding for a U.S. Department of Education grant to expand preschool programs in school districts in which at least 50% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch. Maine is one of 18 states to receive the funding$14 million over four yearsbut has only received the first two installments of that funding. The proposed cuts threatened communities that had started or expanded programs. Pingree, who this fall visited a school in Old Orchard Beach that would have been affected, led an effort in the House to restore the funding. Over 60 of her colleagues signed on to her bipartisan push to put the funding back in the bill that passed the House today. School districts can use the funding to either expand existing preschool programs from half to full days or add classrooms and teachers to provide services for more students. The grant also supports infrastructure development at the state level to ensure that programs are meeting a high standard of quality. The funding was contained in the omnibus spending bill that passed the House this morning and is headed to the Senate. Pingree voted for the bill.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-gets-provisions-support-veterans-spending-bill	Pingree gets provisions to support veterans in spending bill	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree was able to insert provisions into a spending bill that is working its way through Congress that will improve healthcare for veterans and do more to focus on the problems of homelessness and suicide among vets. Pingree added language that will require the Veterans Administration (VA) to provide gender-appropriate prosthetics. She says she has heard from veterans who say that prosthetics are often designed to fit men but don't fit women correctly. "We've heard stories of doctors sanding down prosthetics that were made for men to make them fit women veterans," Pingree said. "These women who have served our country deserve better, and I want to make sure the VA starts providing prosthetics that are designed for them." Pingree, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, was also able to insert language into the spending bill passed by the House today that requires the VA to increase efforts to find and address the causes of homelessness among female veterans. "Even though female veterans are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, there are some big gaps in the way we address that issue," Pingree said. "There is a disconnect between the scale of the problem and how much attention the VA pays to it. The VA needs to do a better job getting services and help to female vets before they end up on the street. And for those who are already homelessin particular vets who are single moms with small childrenwe need to do a better job creating programs that provide them safe shelter and help them get back into a home." Pingree also added a provision to the bill that pushes the VA to increase partnerships with universities, like the University of Maine, to do more research into traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and suicide among veterans.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-votes-bill-keep-government-operating	Pingree votes for bill to keep government operating	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree voted this morning for a spending bill that will keep the government operating for the remainder of the fiscal year (through September 30, 2016). The bill includes provisions Pingree inserted to improve health care for veterans and restore funding to an important pre-K program. The bill also contains important provisions affecting agriculture, taxes, clean energy, health care, the environment and defense. Some of the provisions in the bill Pingree voted for include: Education The bill restores $250 million in funding for pre-K. Pingree led the fight to have this money put back in the bill and it means over 1,500 Maine students will be able take advantage of new and expanded preschool programs around the state. Veterans Pingree inserted language that will require the Veterans Administration to provide gender-appropriate prosthetics. She says she has heard from veterans who say that prosthetics are often designed to fit men but don't fit women correctly. Pingree was also able to insert language into the spending bill passed by the House today that requires the VA to increase efforts to find and address the causes of homelessness among female veterans. Food and farming GMO salmon cannot be sold in U.S. until FDA comes up with mandatory labeling framework. For the first time in years, the bill does not include a GIPSA rider. Those riders blocked enforcement of GIPSA, a law that is supposed to protect contract chicken farmers who have been punished by big companies for speaking out. Comedian John Oliver highlighted the issue on his TV show earlier this year. Chicken processed in China will be banned in school meals. Since 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has allowed the import of processed poultry products to the United States from China. Increased funding for programs that promote and support local and sustainable agriculture, including the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), Sustainable Ag Research and …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/finding-solutions-our-nation%E2%80%99s-heroin-epidemic	Finding Solutions to Our Nations Heroin Epidemic	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	A heroin epidemic is sweeping across America. Going beyond their traditional urban centers, drug cartels and big-city traffickers are targeting new lucrative markets in states and communities previously untouched by this scourge. Maine is one of those targets and has been hit particularly hard. In 2014, there were 100 overdose deaths in our state from heroin and other substances up from just 16 in 2010. In the first half of this year, 63 overdose deaths were reported. In the month of July alone, the City of Portland had 14 suspected heroin overdoses, including two deaths in one day. As another measure of the extent of this crisis, the number of people seeking treatment for opiate abuse has tripled during the last four years. This epidemic is the result of a one-two punch. First, more than a decade ago, the increased use of prescription opiate painkillers for legitimate medical purposes led to a dramatic increase in the abuse of those medications and also in overdoses. Second, as medical and law enforcement officials took steps to make it more difficult to obtain prescription opioids illegally, the street price of those drugs soared and cheap, readily available heroin filled the void. A single recreational dose of a prescription painkiller can cost $40 or more on the street, while a single dose of heroin can be purchased for as little as $5. Users often initially become addicted to the prescription drugs they wrongly consider safe and then, due to the cost of feeding a daily addiction, switch to the cheaper illegal heroin. The reason big-city traffickers are targeting northern New England is also a matter of economics. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Maine and New Hampshire have the dubious distinction of having the most prescriptions per person for long-acting and high-dose painkillers. Thus, our states have a high concentration of potential heroin customers. All too often, the road to addiction begins with a legitimate medical issue. Not long ago, a young man in Maine told me that he w…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-final-tax-relief-bill-three-key-small-business-tax-incentives-authored	Senate Passes Final Tax-Relief Bill with Three Key Small Business Tax Incentives Authored by Senator Collins	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C.The Senate passed a bipartisan tax-relief bill this morning (65-33) with three key provisions authored by U.S. Senator Susan Collins that will greatly benefit our small businesses in Maine and across our country, allowing them to invest and create more jobs. The bill will now be sent to the President for his signature. Small businesses create the majority of our nation's jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, small businesses generated 63 percent of the net new jobs that were created between 1993 and 2013, said Senator Collins. Small business owners across Maine and throughout our country tell me repeatedly that the constant change and uncertainty in our tax code have hindered their ability to invest and create new, good-paying jobs. I am so pleased that these three critically important tax incentives have been included in the tax-relief bill that passed the Senate with my support this afternoon. These crucial provisions will provide the incentives and the certainty required for our small businesses to successfully create jobs and grow our economy. These three important provisions will strengthen our economy in Maine and across our nation and make it easier for small businesses to grow and create jobs: Section 179 expensing will be made permanent at $500,000. Permanently setting Section 179 of our tax code at this higher level will give our small businesses the certainty they need to plan for expansion, invest in equipment, and hire new workers. This provision allows small businesses to immediately deduct the entire cost of newly acquired assets that are purchased or financed during the tax year. Bonus depreciation is extended. Many business assets, from copy machines to tractors and other equipment wear out or depreciate with use. Bonus depreciation allows businesses to recover part of the cost of these assets right away, helping to offset the cost of purchasing new equipment. This provision will extend this important deduction for five years, providing much needed certainty f…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-susan-collins-secures-major-provisions-maine-omnibus-bill	Senator Susan Collins Secures Major Provisions for Maine in Omnibus Bill	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senator and Senior Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Susan Collins, successfully secured major provisions for Maine in the FY2016 Omnibus Bill, which will fund the government through next September. The legislation passed the Senate (65-33) this afternoon, following the House vote of (316-113) earlier today. The legislation was signed into law by the President this evening. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins worked diligently over the last year to successfully negotiate the inclusion of a number provisions with wide-ranging significance for Maine and for our country, including: $1 billion toward an additional Destroyer Likely to be built at BIW and full funding for the DDG-1000 program Senator Collins successfully advocated for the inclusion of one billion dollars for an additional destroyer that will likely be built at BIW. The federal truck weight limit in Maine is now permanent law As the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, one of Senator Collins top priorities has long been to keep trucks weighing up to 100,000 pounds off of our downtown streets and onto the federal interstates where they belong. In 2011, Senator Collins successfully negotiated an agreement to allow the heaviest trucks on the highway for the next 20 years. This provision in the omnibus makes these truck weight limits permanent law for the state of Maine. $2 billion increase for NIHincluding a $350 million increase to combat Alzheimers Disease This increase is the largest to the NIHs budget since 2003. As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committing and founder and co-chair of the Senate Alzheimers Task Force, securing increased funding for Alzheimers has long been one of Senator Collins top priorities. This year, 5.2 million Americans, including 37,000 in Maine, will suffer from the devastating emotional and economic toll caused by Alzheimers disease. The omnibus bill includes a $350 million dollar increase in funding to combat Alzheim…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fighting-maine	Fighting for Maine	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Today, the U.S. House of Representatives completed the second portion of the Omnibus spending package that will fund the programs and agencies of the federal government through the 2016 Fiscal Year. This final spending package passed the House with broad bipartisan support in a 316-113 vote. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement: The negotiation process for this massive bill needs to be much more transparent, said Congressman Poliquin. Secret deals are not the way that these enormous spending bills were meant to be brokered, and going forward we must have a much more open and comprehensive process for developing these yearlong appropriations bills, letting all representatives have more say in the process. While I certainly agree that this bill is not perfect, there are many elements of this appropriations bill that will greatly benefit Maine. This bill will bolster our national security, repeal and delay key elements of ObamaCare, act to combat the terrible and growing problem of drug abuse and addiction in our State, support our mills and paper producers, and ensure that our Service personnel, active and retired, are fully supported. I am also very pleased that this final, bipartisan appropriations bill will include an extension of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act and a five-year extension of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund (VCF), ensuring that the September 11, 2001 first-responders are given the care that they undoubtedly deserve. Congress must ensure those individuals who sacrificed so much on September 11th, and in the days after, have access to the critical health benefits they need. I believe its of the upmost importance that these selfless men and women are fully funded, and I am pleased that Congress has come together to act on this important legislation. This bill also acts to bolster our national security by implementing the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, which will strengthen our visa program and secure…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-supports-government-funding-bill-with-important-provisions-for-maine-	King Supports Government Funding Bill with Important Provisions for Maine	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Supports Government Funding Bill with Important Provisions for Maine Legislation averts shutdown, avoids fiscal uncertainty of years past Friday, December 18, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted for an omnibus appropriations bill that will fund the government through September 2016, extend tax policies that support American families and businesses, and contains a host of other provisions important to Maine. Though Senator King had concerns about how the costs of the tax deal will add to the national debt, he was not willing to vote to shut down the government or sacrifice the numerous provisions that will benefit the people of Maine. By passing this bill, weve avoided another government shutdown, managed to extend or enhance several tax provisions important to Maine families and businesses, and given our economy some semblance of calm and predictability for the coming fiscal year. But unfortunately, the tax provisions in this bill are a short-term solution to a long-term problem, said Senator King. We cannot continue to mortgage our childrens future with these massive, last minute agreements even though this negotiating process was more deliberate and inclusive than it has been in the past. I hope that in the coming years, we can find a way to pay for expiring tax provisions and return to a more thoughtful, regular appropriations process that allows us to responsibly invest in our future, grow the economy, and leave our kids and grandkids with an opportunity to succeed rather than a mountain of debt. An omnibus appropriations bill is legislation that combines various smaller government funding bills into one large package that can be passed all together at once, usually to avoid a pending fiscal deadline. The omnibus legislation passed today was negotiated by Congressional leaders and the Obama Administration in order to avoid a government shutdown by funding federal departments, agencies, and programs over the next fiscal …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-votes-tax-breaks-working-families-small-businesses-clean-energy	Pingree votes for tax breaks for working families, small businesses, clean energy projects	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today voted for a bill that extends tax breaks for working families, innovative companies developing clean energy and new technology and small businesses. The bill passed the House and now goes to the Senate. "Big corporations and wealthy individuals have gotten most of the benefit from the economic recovery and it's time that working families and small businesses get a bigger piece of the pie," Pingree said. "These tax cuts help out families trying to make ends meet and pay for child care, they help small businesses that want to expand and grow and they provide a predictable, long-term tax break for the clean energy companies that have created good paying jobs in Maine and around the country. " The bill that Pingree voted for today renews dozens of tax breaks that had expired at the end of 2014, and makes the renewals retroactive to January 1 of this year, so taxpayers can claim the deductions when they file their taxes in a few months. In addition to extending those tax cuts, the bill makes permanent the Earned Income Tax Credit for working families and the childcare tax credit.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/tax-provision-touted-pingree-reduce-food-waste-passes-house	Tax provision touted by Pingree to reduce food waste passes House	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	A tax break that Congresswoman Chellie Pingree says will reduce food waste passed the House today as part of a larger package of tax provisions. The provision creates a permanent, "enhanced" tax deduction for grocery stores, restaurants, and farmers who donate excess food to organizations like food banks and soup kitchens. The provision, which is part of Pingree's Food Recovery Act, was originally introduced in a bill written by Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY). "This tax break makes it easier and more worthwhile for businesses, including farms, to donate excess food to a food bank," Pingree said. "It will mean less food going to landfills and more food going to feed people struggling with hunger." An enhanced tax deduction means the taxpayer gets credit for the full value of the food plus an additional deduction to compensate for the expense and labor of donating the product. The provision also increases the maximum tax deduction from 10% to 15% of taxable income. An estimated 40% of food produced every year in the United States is wasted while nearly 50 million people struggle with hunger. Pingree says if food waste is reduced by just 15% and good quality, wholesome food is redirected to people in need, the number of hungry Americans could be cut in half. Earlier this month, Pingree introduced the Food Recovery Act, a comprehensive package of legislative proposals aimed at reducing wasted.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-highlights-maine-businesses-final-push-small-business-tax-relief-leader	Senator Collins Highlights Maine Businesses in Final Push for Small Business Tax Relief With Leader McConnell, Senator Johnson and NFIB President	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE to watch Senator Collins remarks WASHINGTON, D.C. Senator Susan Collins, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Ron Johnson, and NFIB President Dan Danner held a news conference today to highlight critical small business tax relief that is part of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015. This legislation will soon be considered by the Senate. Three critically important tax incentives authored by Senator Collins have been included in the PATH Act, including a provision that would make small business expensing a permanent feature of the tax code at $500,000. Known as Section 179, it allows small businesses to deduct from their annual tax obligation up to $500,000 for the cost of new equipment, machinery, technology and other capital upgrades. If Congress fails to extend this provision, the maximum deduction amount will drop to $25,000. During the news conference NFIB CEO and President Dan Danner said, Voting to make 179 permanent is one of the most crucial actions Congress can take in 2015 to help small business. Its a tax benefit that encourages small businesses to invest in their own growth, which every member of the Senate would agree the country needs. Making that provision permanent has been our top priority for years and were very grateful to Majority Leader McConnell, Senator Johnson, and Senator Collins for their strong support. In her remarks, Senator Collins stated that when she talks to small businesses in Maine, their number one complaint to me is that they never know what the tax code is going to be, and thus they tend to freeze their investment decisions, and therefore their job creation the ramifications of having certainty and ending the unpredictability in our tax code for these three vital small business provisions will help to create many more new jobs for our economy. Senator Collins also spoke from the Senate Floor today to underscore the importance of these provisions for our small businesses. According to the NFIB Research Foundation, p…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-letter-to-president-king-calls-for-increased-funding-to-address-opioid-epidemic	In Letter to President, King Calls for Increased Funding to Address Opioid Epidemic	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	In Letter to President, King Calls for Increased Funding to Address Opioid Epidemic Thursday, December 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) wrote a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to increase funding in the 2017 Fiscal Year budget to address the prescription drug and heroin epidemic in Maine and across the country. In the letter, Senator King underscored his call for a comprehensive approach to combat drug addiction and support the communities dealing with this public health and safety crisis. As you are well aware, addiction to opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and heroin is tearing at the fabric of our communities and families and devastating peoples lives across the country, Senator King wrote in the letter. Addressing this epidemic will require a multi-faceted approach, including a strong commitment to prevention, treatment, enforcement and various measures to support communities feeling its acute effects. []Ultimately, the opioid and heroin crisis we face demands an aggressive approach at the federal level to create lasting solutions on behalf of families and communities in Maine and across the United States. Senator Kings letter also discussed how increased funding for programs and initiatives like Maine Healthy Communities, Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) will be balanced by significant savings in the long run through decreases in emergency care and long-term treatment, as well as a reduction in crime associated with heroin use and distribution. The most significant savings however, is that of saving valuable young lives and saving families and communities the pain of watching people struggle with opioid dependence and so often dying. Senator Kings letter also outlines the tragic story of Michael Fielders, of Eliot, Maine, who died of a suspected heroin overdose in November while waiting for treatment. Michaels parents have been vocal about addressing the opioid c…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-warns-tax-extender-deal-will-shift-costs-to-future-generations-	King Warns Tax Extender Deal Will Shift Costs to Future Generations	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Warns Tax Extender Deal Will Shift Costs to Future Generations Thursday, December 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with his colleagues Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) to express concern about the cost of the tax extenders package set to come before the Senate tomorrow. Despite his support for many of the tax policies in the legislation, such as permanent enhancements to tax credits for working families and investment incentives for businesses, Senator King worries that the $680 billion package negotiated by Congressional leadership will saddle future generations with debt because it is not offset by other spending reductions or revenue increases. This bill should be called the Tax Your Grandchildren Act, because were cutting our own taxes, but were borrowing the money that otherwise would be collected, and the kids are going to have to pay it back, at some point, with interest, said Senator King. Ultimately for me, this is an issue of ethical stewardship. [] Our generation is not keeping our infrastructure up, is not adequately providing for the common defense, and is shifting the costs from us to our children. Thats not stewardship, that is inter-generational theft. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, a $680 billion agreement reached by Congressional leaders, would extend many expired tax provisions for families and businesses and carries an enormous cost without containing any offsets in spending or revenue increases. Despite Senator Kings support for many of the bills individual policies such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Research and Development tax credit, and tax provisions that support renewable energy he is concerned that using this year-end, unpaid tax extenders package to advance these policies is fiscally irresponsible and only shift taxes to future generations. Senator King has long believed that Congress needs to stop making short-sighted decisions that pass along long-ter…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-following-extension-vital-perkins-student-loan-program	Senator Collins Statement Following Extension of Vital Perkins Student Loan Program	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Senator Collins Statement Following Extension of Vital Perkins Student Loan Program More than 5,000 Maine Students received $9.2 million in Perkins Loans last year Posted Wed, 12/16/2015 - 17:48 WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, released the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed legislation extending the Perkins Loan Program for two years. This critical lifeline for many low-income students expired on September 30.At Maines colleges and universities, more than 5,000 students received a Perkins Loan last year, providing $9.2 million in financial aid, said Senator Collins. Students depend on the Perkins Loan Program as a critical resource to fill gaps beyond what is available through the Department of Educations Direct Loan Program and a familys ability to pay. While todays extension to sustain this vital and proven program for two years is progress, a permanent extension of the program is clearly needed to give students in Maine and across our country the critical certainty required to plan for and afford a higher education.Senator Collins has long advocated to protect the Perkins Loan Program, the nations older federal student loan program. This program has existed with broad bipartisan support since 1958 and has provided more than $28 billion in low-interest loans through almost 26 million awards to students in all 50 states. In the last academic year alone, the program lent $1.1 billion to more than half a million students with financial need across more than 1,500 institutions of higher education.This October, Senator Collins led a bipartisan letter, along with Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert Casey (D-PA), and Rob Portman (R-OH), to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Harry Reid urging them to take up …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-and-king-announce-usda-now-accepting-applications-rural-energy-america	Senators Collins and King Announce that USDA is Now Accepting Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program Funding	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and small rural businesses to purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. REAP funding will make it possible to rehabilitate housing, encourage energy efficiency, and help improve facilities throughout Maine, said Senators King and Collins in a joint statement. We encourage Maine farmers and rural small business owners to apply for these loans, which provide vital opportunities to install energy efficiency measures that save money, better protect the environment, and boost economic growth. Funding available through the REAP guaranteed loan program includes financing for renewable energy systems and making energy efficiency improvements, such as efficient lighting conversions, motor upgrades, building envelope improvements, HVAC upgrades, and more. Loan amounts can range from $5,000 to $25 million and can cover up to 75 percent of the total eligible project cost. For more information, you may contact Brian Wilson at 990-9168 or brian.wilson@me.usda.gov, or you may visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency/me.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-approval-1-billion-toward-additional-destroyer-likely-be	Senators Collins, King Announce Approval of $1 billion Toward Additional Destroyer Likely to be built at BIW	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced today that the final omnibus bill includes $1 billion toward the construction of an additional DDG-51 destroyer. This destroyer would likely be built at Bath Iron Works. This destroyer would be in addition to those already included in the current multi-year procurement contract. The omnibus bill will be considered by Congress later this week. As a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins requested the funding toward the additional DDG-51 to help meet combatant commander requirements for destroyers across the globe. Senator Collins successfully advocated for the inclusion of the $1 billion in funding in the Senate Defense Appropriations Bill. The House Defense Appropriations Bill, however, allocated no funding for this additional destroyer. Following weeks of negotiations between the House and Senate regarding the bill, the omnibus bill appropriates the full $1 billion in funding toward this additional ship, affirming the strategic importance of our Navy and shipbuilding programs. Our destroyers are the workhorses of the Navy, and I am proud of the highly skilled, hardworking men and women at Bath Iron Works who continue to deliver the highest quality ships for our nations sailors, said Senator Collins. The power of presence cannot be taken for granted or ignored, which is why the investments for this new destroyer funded by this bill are so necessary. In a time of serious budget constraints for our Defense Department, this important investment underscores the value and importance of our naval assets to the security and stability of our country. The equation is simple: fewer ships means less presence, less security at home, and less security around the world. I am so pleased that after many long hours of negotiations, this $1 billion in funding was included in the final omnibus bill. Senator Collins is …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/three-key-small-business-provisions-authored-senator-collins-included-final-tax-relief-bill	Three Key Small Business Provisions Authored by Senator Collins Included in Final Tax-Relief Bill	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C.Three key small business provisions, authored by U.S. Senator Susan Collins, have been incorporated into the tax-relief bill that will be considered by Congress later this week.The provisions are endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), our nations largest small business advocacy organization. Small businesses create the majority of our nation's jobs.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, small businesses generated 63 percent of the net new jobs that were created between 1993 and 2013,said Senator Collins. Small business owners across Maine and throughout our country tell me repeatedly that the constant change and uncertainty in our tax code have hindered their ability to invest and create new, good-paying jobs. I am so pleased that these three critically important tax incentives have been included in the tax-relief bill. They will provide the incentives and the certainty required for our small businesses to successfully create jobs and grow our economy. These three important provisions will strengthen our economy in Maine and across our nation and make it easier for small businesses to grow and create jobs: Section 179 expensing will be made permanent at $500,000.Permanently setting Section 179 of our tax code at this higher level will give our small businesses the certainty they need to plan for expansion, invest in equipment, and hire new workers. This provision allows small businesses to immediately deduct the entire cost of newly acquired assets that are purchased or financed during the tax year. Bonus depreciation is extended. Many business assets, from copy machines to tractors and other equipment wear out or depreciate with use. Bonus depreciation allows businesses to recover part of the cost of these assetsright away, helping to offset the cost of purchasing new equipment. This provision will extend this important deduction for five years, providing much needed certainty for our businesses. A faster depreciation for restaurant improvements is made perman…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-joins-effort-ban-assault-weapons-high-capacity-magazines	Pingree joins effort to ban assault weapons, high capacity magazines	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today joined Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) and other colleagues to introduce the Assault Weapons Ban of 2015 and prohibit the sale, transfer, production, and importation of new military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. "Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are the weapon of choice for mass shooters in the United States. We cannot continue to stand by as these weapons of war are bought and sold freely," Pingree said. "I'm proud to be an sponsor of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2015. This bill will save lives and reduce the toll of gun violence in our country." The Assault Weapons Ban of 2015 will prohibit the sale, transfer, production, and importation of: Semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a military-style feature that can accept a detachable magazine; Semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds; Semi-automatic shotguns with a military-style feature; Any ammunition feeding device that can hold more than 10 rounds; And 157 specifically-named and listed firearms. The bill also sets new standards to prevent "default proceeds"the standard that allows firearms dealers to complete a sale if a buyer's background check is not completed within three days. Under the proposed law, the background check period will be extended to 14 days for the sale or transfer of an existing assault weapon. If it is determined that a gun was sold to a prohibited individual, the FBI will be required to notify federal, state, and local law enforcement so the weapon can be retrieved as quickly as possible and the buyer can be held accountable for violating federal law. Cicilline, the bill's author, pointed to the use of assault weapons in mass shootings around the country. "More than half of all mass shooters who killed four or more people used an assault weapon. That's because the sole purpose of an assault weapon is to inflict as much damage as possible in as short an amount of time as possible, Cicilline said. "This bill is an im…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-congratulate-alba-technic-for-winning-head-health-challenge-	Collins, King Congratulate Alba-Technic for Winning Head Health Challenge	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Congratulate Alba-Technic for Winning Head Health Challenge Winthrop-based company is one of five winners nationwide to receive award from National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Football League, Under Armour, and General Electric Wednesday, December 16, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today congratulated Alba-Technic, LLC, one of five companies nationwide to win the Head Health Challenge III. The challenge is an open innovation competition held by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Football League, Under Armour, and General Electric (GE) to support the discovery, design and development of advanced materials that better absorb and dissipate impact. Alba-Technic has been doing innovative and exciting things in Winthrop to advance head health and safety, and were thrilled that this Maine company is being recognized so prominently at the national level, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. As we learn more and more about brain injuries and brain trauma, the need for new protective technologies becomes that much clearer and Alba Technic has an important role to play. We commend the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the NFL, Under Armour, and GE for organizing this competition, and look forward to following Alba Technic as it continues to compete for additional prize money and, more importantly, develop this potentially life-saving material. Winthrop-based Alba-Technic has developed a patented, shock-absorbent honeycomb material with an outer layer that diverts the energy from a fall or hit. The material is normally soft and compliant, but upon impact, the outer layer changes into a hard shell to spread the energy and protect the user from injury. As one of the competition winners, the company will receive $250,000 to advance their work in developing its state-of-the-art material. A panel of leading experts in the field of materials scie…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-announce-that-usda-is-now-accepting-applications-for-the-rural-energy-for-america-program-funding	Senators Collins and King Announce that USDA is Now Accepting Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program Funding	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins and King Announce that USDA is Now Accepting Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program Funding Wednesday, December 16, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and small rural businesses to purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. REAP funding will make it possible to rehabilitate housing, encourage energy efficiency, and help improve facilities throughout Maine, said Senators King and Collins in a joint statement. We encourage Maine farmers and rural small business owners to apply for these loans, which provide vital opportunities to install energy efficiency measures that save money, better protect the environment, and boost economic growth. Funding available through the REAP guaranteed loan program includes financing for renewable energy systems and making energy efficiency improvements, such as efficient lighting conversions, motor upgrades, building envelope improvements, HVAC upgrades, and more. Loan amounts can range from $5,000 to $25 million and can cover up to 75 percent of the total eligible project cost. For more information, you may contact Brian Wilson at 990-9168 or brian.wilson@me.usda.gov, or you may visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency/me. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-approval-of-1-billion-toward-additional-destroyer-likely-to-be-built-at-biw-	Senators Collins, King Announce Approval of $1 billion Toward Additional Destroyer Likely to be built at BIW	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins, King Announce Approval of $1 billion Toward Additional Destroyer Likely to be built at BIW Wednesday, December 16, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced today that the final omnibus bill includes $1 billion toward the construction of an additional DDG-51 destroyer. This destroyer would likely be built at Bath Iron Works. This destroyer would be in addition to those already included in the current multi-year procurement contract. The omnibus bill will be considered by Congress later this week. As a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins requested the funding toward the additional DDG-51 to help meet combatant commander requirements for destroyers across the globe. Senator Collins successfully advocated for the inclusion of the $1 billion in funding in the Senate Defense Appropriations Bill. The House Defense Appropriations Bill, however, allocated no funding for this additional destroyer. Following weeks of negotiations between the House and Senate regarding the bill, the omnibus bill appropriates the full $1 billion in funding toward this additional ship, affirming the strategic importance of our Navy and shipbuilding programs. Our destroyers are the workhorses of the Navy, and I am proud of the highly skilled, hardworking men and women at Bath Iron Works who continue to deliver the highest quality ships for our nations sailors, said Senator Collins. The power of presence cannot be taken for granted or ignored, which is why the investments for this new destroyer funded by this bill are so necessary. In a time of serious budget constraints for our Defense Department, this important investment underscores the value and importance of our naval assets to the security and stability of our country. The equation is simple: fewer ships means less presence, less security at home, and …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-susan-collins-tops-new-bipartisan-ranking-227-us-senators-1993-2014	Senator Susan Collins Tops New Bipartisan Ranking of 227 U.S. Senators from 1993-2014	2015-12-15	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Senator Susan Collins Tops New Bipartisan Ranking of 227 U.S. Senators from 1993-2014 Long-term analysis ranks Senator Collins as the most bipartisan current senator and the 2nd most bipartisan senator overall Posted Tue, 12/15/2015 - 13:24	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/grant-opportunities/200-million-loans-available-renewable-energy-and-efficiency-projects	$200 million in loans available for renewable energy and efficiency projects	2015-12-15	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	---USDA RD PRESS RELEASE--- BANGOR, Dec. 15, 2015 USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel has announced that the agency is now accepting applications from rural small businesses and agricultural producers to compete for $200 million in guaranteed loan funds available to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Maines rural communities. Funds are being made available through Rural Developments Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel said, "This funding opportunity represents substantial potential for rural Maine businesses and agricultural producers to make long-term investments in renewable energy systems and energy-efficiency improvements through a local lender using USDA Rural Developments REAP guaranteed loan program. This collaboration can help our businesses significantly reduce operating costs, decrease Maines independence on foreign oil, and ultimately demonstrate their positive environmental values to their customers and community." USDA Rural Development has approximately $200 million available through the REAP guaranteed loan program for fiscal year 2016. Loan purposes include financing renewable energy systems such as biomass fueled anaerobic digesters and biodiesel production, solar, wind, geothermal, etc., and making energy efficiency improvements such as efficient lighting conversions, motor upgrades, building envelope improvements, HVAC upgrades and more. REAP is a program driven by the lender who will request the USDA Rural Development loan guarantee, and if approved, make and service the loan. Benefits to our lenders include providing them with a tool that helps to expand their portfolio in rural areas, enabling them to increase earnings through participation in the secondary market, and allowing them to make loans above their lending limits. Agricultural producers and rural small businesses benefit from available credit, favorable rates and terms, and energy and cost savi…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-poliquin-invites-students-enter-congressional-app-challenge	Congressman Poliquin Invites Students To Enter Congressional App Challenge	2015-12-15	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	BANGOR Congressman Bruce Poliquin is inviting high school students from Maines Second District to participate in the second annual Congressional App Challenge. The Congressional App Challenge is a national competition aimed at developing students STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills and celebrating their creativity in coding their own applications. I encourage all high school students in the Second District to enter this exciting contest, said Congressman Poliquin. STEM-related jobs are among Maines fastest-growing and highest-paying. By developing these in-demand skills today, our Second District students will be better prepared for success in the workforce tomorrow and our Great State will be more competitive globally in attracting and retaining innovative industries that create good jobs and grow our economy. Congressman Poliquin will personally recognize the winning students or student teams who must submit their original apps by the Jan. 15 deadline. Winners will also have their apps featured on a display in the U.S. Capitol Building as well as on the Congressional App Challenge website. For more information about the Congressional App Challenge or to enter, visit https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/participating-districts/ and select ME-02 or contact Congressman Poliquins offices in Lewiston (784-0768), Bangor (942-0583) or Presque Isle (764-1968).	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-send-letter-to-homeland-security-urging-more-rigorous-screening-of-visa-applicants-on-social-media-	King, Colleagues Send Letter to Homeland Security Urging More Rigorous Screening of Visa Applicants on Social Media	2015-12-15	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King, Colleagues Send Letter to Homeland Security Urging More Rigorous Screening of Visa Applicants on Social Media Tuesday, December 15, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with 24 Senators in sending a letter a to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Jeh Johnson, expressing concern about the reported lack of consistency in how the agency monitors the social media activity of people applying for U.S. Visas. The letter comes after reports that the female assailant involved in the San Bernardino terrorist attack earlier this month, who entered the country on a K-1 fianc visa, may have expressed radical jihadist sentiments on social media. We write to express our deep concern regarding reports that critical background information of individuals participating in American visa programs has been largely omitted from the visa security screening process, wrote the Senators in their letter. Ensuring that the screening processes for our nations visa programs are rigorous and comprehensive must be a top priority, as these programs are critical to our security, our economy, and for our bilateral relationships with nations around the world. We look forward to working with you to establish a more robust social media background check process for all visitors and immigrants to the United States. In the letter, which was led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the Senators asked DHS for more information on how social media background checks are used in the Visa review process now, and how that process can be improved. They also expressed their commitment to making sure Americas Visa programs have rigorous and comprehensive screening processes. Also signing the letter were Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Christopher Murphey (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Cory Booker (D-…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-welcomes-new-ground-beef-rules-she-had-pushed	Pingree welcomes new ground beef rules that she had pushed for	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today welcomed new federal rules that require grocery stores to keep track of the sources of ground beef and said the regulations will help track food-borne illnesses like the antibiotic-resistant salmonella outbreak linked to Hannaford Supermarkets in 2011. Pingree had pushed the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to toughen up requirements for retailers to keep careful records of the sources of meat used to produce ground beef in their butcher shops. "I'm glad USDA has issued these rules that will make it mandatory for retailers to keep track of where the beef they are grinding is coming fromthis is something we have been pushing hard for and I'm glad regulators have agreed it's necessary. As we learned the hard way, the voluntary guidelines that have been in place were just not sufficient when contaminated ground beef ended up in the grocery store." Pingree, who sits on the committee that oversees the USDA's budget, had asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack pushing for better record keeping to allow quick tracing of food-born illnesses related to tainted ground beef. Pingree said while the record keeping will help find the source of illnesses from ground beef, the increased use of antibiotics in animal feed continues to put consumers at risk for antibiotic-resistant infections. "The particular strain of Salmonella found in the 2011 outbreak was drug resistant, something we are seeing more and more often," Pingree said. "The use of human antibiotics in animal feed has become more and more common and it's leading to new strains of infections that no longer respond to the antibiotics we have. It's a pretty scary problem." The Salmonella linked to the outbreak four years ago was multi-drug resistant. Although the infections traced to the ground beef responded to some drugs, a number of antibiotics normally used to treat Salmonella proved ineffective with that strain. The incidence of drug resistant infections in farm animals has been on…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/poliquin-applauds-final-order-us-customs-against-unfair-canadian	Poliquin Applauds Final Order from U.S. Customs Against Unfair Canadian Subsidies	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON In an issue first raised by Maine's Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, the Department of Commerce (DOC) issued its final countervailing duty order Thursday on imports of supercalendared paper from Canada. This issue comes as a result of the determination from the International Trade Commission (ITC), in a 5-0 vote, that unfair Canadian subsidies on supercalendared paper were unlawfully hurting Maine businesses, like Madison Paper. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement: "As I have said before, this final order from the DOC is a victory for Madison Paper and a victory for Maine workers," said Congressman Poliquin. This decision will preserve more than 200 jobs at Madison Paper and keep the facility operating and producing their quality product. "For months, I have made it a top priority to investigate these unfair trade practices and job-killing subsidies from Canada that have been detrimental to Maine's businesses. It is unacceptable that so many Maine families have lost work because of these illegal trade practices. "This final order is a critical step forward in growing jobs in Maine, but it's certainly not the end of the fight. As Maine's Second District Congressman, I will continue to fight for Maine jobs and fight to end unfair trade policies."	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-statement-response-bath-iron-works-labor-contract-approval	Collins, King Statement in response to Bath Iron Works Labor Contract Approval	2015-12-13	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Collins, King Statement in response to Bath Iron Works Labor Contract Approval Posted Sun, 12/13/2015 - 00:00 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King issued the following statement today following approval of the new labor contract between Bath Iron Works and the Local S6 Machinists Union:The ratification of the labor contract required collaboration, hard work, and compromise by all parties. This represents a significant achievement and will put BIW on a viable track moving forward as they work as a team to fulfill critical Navy requirements. Bath Iron Works and its highly-skilled workers are national strategic assets essential to our countrys defense and to our states economy. Simply put, there is no workforce better able to build the Zumwalt and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers than the men and women of BIW. We have secured funding for the construction of the DDG-1000s and the DDG-51s, and we remain strong advocates for BIWs opportunity to compete for the construction of the Coast Guards new Offshore Patrol Cutters, which would diversify BIWs workload, and make the yard more competitive for future Arleigh Burke destroyer contracts.Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-statement-in-response-to-bath-iron-works-labor-contract-approval	Collins, King Statement In Response to Bath Iron Works Labor Contract Approval	2015-12-13	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Statement In Response to Bath Iron Works Labor Contract Approval Sunday, December 13, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King issued the following statement today following approval of the new labor contract between Bath Iron Works and the Local S6 Machinists Union: The ratification of the labor contract required collaboration, hard work, and compromise by all parties. This represents a significant achievement and will put BIW on a viable track moving forward as they work as a team to fulfill critical Navy requirements. Bath Iron Works and its highly-skilled workers are national strategic assets essential to our countrys defense and to our states economy. Simply put, there is no workforce better able to build the Zumwalt and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers than the men and women of BIW. We have secured funding for the construction of the DDG-1000s and the DDG-51s, and we remain strong advocates for BIWs opportunity to compete for the construction of the Coast Guards new Offshore Patrol Cutters, which would diversify BIWs workload, and make the yard more competitive for future Arleigh Burke destroyer contracts. Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shaws-supermarket-chief-tells-pingree-company-will-reconsider-food	Shaw's Supermarket chief tells Pingree that company will reconsider food donation policy	2015-12-12	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said that the president of Shaw's Supermarkets told her that the company would revisit their policy on donating perishable food to groups that work to feed hungry families. Jim Rice, head of the Shaw's chain, told Pingree that the company is committed to helping local hunger organizations and would reexamine a decision made two years ago to stop a program that sent food that near its expiration dateto soup kitchens and food pantries. Earlier in the week, Pingree had contacted the company about its decision to stop donating food. "I really appreciate the company taking another look at this policy," Pingree said. "I know Shaw's is committed to the communities they operate in and they already do help hunger organizations in a number of other ways. But I hope they can also find a way to expand that commitment further by donating perishable food to soup kitchens and food pantries." In a phone call Friday night, Rice also told Pingree that any Shaw's stores that still had arrangements to donate food to local organizationslike ones in Brunswick and Bangorwould be allowed to continue those programs. "I know there were a few stores that have continued to donate perishable food and Shaw's made a commitment to grandfather those arrangements," Pingree said. "They promised not to pull the plug on donations to feeding programs in Brunswick and Bangor while they reexamine the policy." An estimated 40% of food produced every year in the United States is wasted, meanwhile nearly 50 million people struggle with hunger. Pingree says if food waste is reduced by just 15% and good quality, wholesome food is redirected to people in need, the number of hungry Americans could be cut in half. This week, Pingree introduced the Food Recovery Act, a comprehensive package of legislative proposals aimed at reducing wasted food and promoting food recovery in America. At a press conference at the Portland Food Co-op on Monday, Pingree was joined by representatives from organizations fight…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-video-king-applauds-students-and-event-organizers-at-maine-robotics-expo-	In Video, King Applauds Students and Event Organizers at Maine Robotics EXPO	2015-12-12	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	In Video, King Applauds Students and Event Organizers at Maine Robotics EXPO Recorded remarks played at Augusta Civic Center highlight importance of STEM education Saturday, December 12, 2015 ARLINGTON, VA In a pre-recorded video message played today at the Maine Robotics EXPO in Augusta, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) congratulated the student participants and event organizers for their interest in and commitment to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. In his remarks, Senator King highlighted the importance of STEM education and told the students that they can change the world through ingenuity and innovation. What a great day for Maine at the Augusta Civic Center. This is an amazing gathering of some of the best and the brightest from across Maine, said Senator King. I want you to know how important what youre doing is not only to have some fun but also to see what you can do with science, technology, engineering, and math, and how you can literally move the world. Im hoping that in this room today is the next Bill Gates or the next Steve Jobs, because the world is yours. The 3rd annual Maine Robotics EXPO welcomed more than 800 students and 2,000 guests from all over the state to the Augusta Civic Center. This full-day event is meant to inspire Maines future workforce and foster an early interest in the STEM fields. The EXPO was organized by Maine Robotics and several other groups and companies including the Robotics Institute of Maine, the Maine App Challenge, Tyler Technologies, Project>Login, and Educate Maine. Senator Kings video message is available here, and the full transcript is below: +++ What a great day for Maine at the Augusta Civic Center. What a great day for robotics for computers for programming. This is an amazing gathering of some of the best and the brightest from across Maine. I want to thank Maine Robotics, The First Lego League, Central Maine Vex, Educate Maine, Maine First Robotics Competiti…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-national-wreaths-across-america-day-king-honors-americas-fallen-heroes-at-arlington-national-cemetery-	On National Wreaths Across America Day, King Honors America’s Fallen Heroes at Arlington National Cemetery	2015-12-12	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	On National Wreaths Across America Day, King Honors Americas Fallen Heroes at Arlington National Cemetery Lays wreath on Maine Senator Hathaways grave and attends ceremony at USS Maine memorial Saturday, December 12, 2015 ARLINGTON, VA This morning, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with thousands of volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery to place wreaths on the graves of Americas fallen heroes as part of the Maine-based initiative Wreaths Across America. During this powerful tribute to Americas veterans and their families, Senator King delivered remarks during a ceremony at the USS Maine Mast Memorial and placed a wreath on the grave of Maines former U.S. Senator William Hathaway, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Senator King worked for former Senator Hathaway during part of his tenure in the U.S. Senate in the 1970s. Wreaths Across America is an amazing tribute to our heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice, to our heroic veterans still with us today, and to their families who stand by their side through it all, said Senator King. I was honored to participate in todays tribute and see firsthand the energy and spirit of community that make this event so special. We can and should be proud that this Maine-led effort has such a powerful impact across the country. Senator King welcomed the Wreaths Across America convoy of volunteers who arrived at Arlington National Cemetery today to lay the Maine-made balsam wreaths at the grave site of American veterans interred there. The procession down the East Coast began on December 6th in Harrington, where Patriot Guard Riders continued their tradition of escorting trucks filled with wreaths. In addition to placing an estimated 230,000 wreaths today at Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place wreaths at over 1,000 locations in all 50 states and in numerous national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil. Wreaths Across America was started 24 years ago by Morrill and Karen Worce…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/investigating-sudden-and-dramatic-price-increases-patent-drugs	Investigating Sudden and Dramatic Price Increases of Off-Patent Drugs	2015-12-11	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Prescription drugs are vital to the health and well-being of all Americans, especially our nations seniors, 90 percent of whom take at least one prescription drug in any given month. For many Americans, access to prescription drugs is not only critical to their quality of life, but can literally be a matter of life or death. Unfortunately, there have been several examples in recent months of certain pharmaceutical companies suddenly and dramatically increasing prices for off-patent prescription drugs they have acquired. The Senate Aging Committee, which I chair, launched a bipartisan investigation into these price spikes and recently held the first in a series of hearings on this topic. Although our investigation is still in its initial phases, the Committee has already interviewed dozens of patients, doctors, and health care experts from around the country and reviewed thousands of pages of documents to better understand the causes and effects of these egregious price increases. Four companies in particular have come to our attention and are the focus of our investigation thus far: Turing Pharmaceuticals, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Retrophin, Inc., and Rodelis Therapeutics. Each of these companies abruptly hiked the price of off-patent drugs they recently acquired by twenty, thirty, or even forty times the initial price, at times putting these medicines out of reach for patients and the doctors who treat them. Usually when the patent expires on a prescription drug, the cost goes down as generic versions are produced. In these cases, even though the patents had expired years ago, there were no generics, and the companies that bought the drugs sent their prices skyrocketing. In North Carolina, for example, doctors for a child diagnosed with toxoplasmosis were unable to obtain Daraprim,the drug needed to treat that disease, because Turing Pharmaceuticals had hiked the price of the drug from $17.63 to $750 per pill, an increase of more than 4,000 percent. This sudden spike forced the local pharmacy to drop it…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-and-poliquin-introduce-bill-make-it-easier-maine-urchin-dealers	Pingree and Poliquin introduce bill to make it easier for Maine urchin dealers to export	2015-12-11	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin introduced a bill today that will make it easier for seafood dealers to export urchins outside of the United States. Recently, federal officials started requiring inspections of urchins entering and leaving the United States. Currently processors buy urchins harvested in Maine and Canada and process them here in Maine. Urchins from Canada are inspected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when coming into the state. After they are processed, all urchins regardless of where they were caughtare again inspected before being exported. Almost all processed urchins are sold to markets in Asia. "The inspection process of getting this highly perishable seafood out of the country has been very difficult for urchin dealers," Pingree said. "Sometimes the urchins end up sitting in a hot warehouse for days waiting for an inspection and this has resulted in the loss of a very valuable product. There is an exemption in place already for shellfish and I think it should be extended to include urchins." The urchin industry employs more than 600 hardworking and dedicated Mainers, said Poliquin. This legislation will root out overly burdensome and unnecessary regulations by the federal government to ensure this industry continues to thrive and help protect these Maine jobs. The exemption from inspection for shellfish dates back to the 1980s. Technically, urchins are echinoiderms instead of shellfish, but only recently did federal officials start requiring U.S. Fish and Wildlife inspections. The bill would revoke the exemption if urchins are declared endangered and does not apply to any urchins harvested illegally.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/helping-our-maine-families-invest	Helping Our Maine Families Invest	2015-12-11	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Yesterday, Maines Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, joined Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-9) in authoring a bipartisan letter, with 11 total signatures, to Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Mary Jo White that demands the SEC revise its rule that would halt residents of rural communities around the country from receiving paper versions of their mutual fund reports through the mail. In the letter, the Members write: As members of the House Financial Services Committee, we respectfully request that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revise proposed Rule 30e-3 to maintain the current option for investors to automatically receive mutual fund financial reporting information in paper form. Elderly investors, who own nearly half of mutual fund assets, and those residing in rural communities often do not have access to internet technology. In order to read such critical information, they rely heavily on paper reports. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement: Thousands of families of our rural communities, with limited access to the Internet, depend on paper versions of their investor reports in order to make informed decisions on their savings, said Congressman Poliquin. These folks shouldnt be burdened with having to print, sort and navigate through countless pages of complex documents with their own personal equipment. In addition, this SEC rule will negatively impact our logging and paper industries in Maine, which provide the best and most reliable paper used to make these statements. A wide majority of Americans do not want to stop automatically receiving paper versions of their mutual fund reports, like this rule from the SEC would enforce. Im very pleased to join with my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, in expressing our concerns on this issue to Chair White. The federal government should be making it easier to save for retirement and reduce barriers for savers. As Maines Second District Congressman, I will continue to fight for policies that w…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-and-king-statement-in-response-to-department-of-commerces-final-countervailing-duty-order-on-supercalendered-paper-from-canada	Collins and King Statement in Response to Department of Commerce’s Final Countervailing Duty Order on Supercalendered Paper from Canada	2015-12-11	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins and King Statement in Response to Department of Commerces Final Countervailing Duty Order on Supercalendered Paper from Canada Friday, December 11, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement today in response to the Department of Commerces countervailing duty order on supercalendered paper from Canada that was published today: The Department of Commerces order is welcome news for the hardworking men and women of Madison Paper Industries who have for far too long fought an uphill battle against illegal and unfair provincial subsidies like the ones provided to the Port Hawkesbury Mill. The duties levied on companies that have been found to receive illegal and unfair trade advantages will help even the playing field in this important segment of the paper market. However, we remain extremely concerned with how the Department of Commerce conducted its investigation of the Canadian producers. The Department should have, as we strongly advocated, reviewed all four Canadian producers of supercalendered paper to ensure a fair and fact-based process. Rather than conduct a careful assessment of the actual subsidies received by each company, the Department relied on Port Hawkesburys and Resolutes subsidies to determine an arbitrary and unfair duty rate for Irving and Catalyst. This ill-advised decision could affect more than 1,000 Maine workers employed at J.D. Irving and the Catalyst-owned mill in Rumford. On behalf of these Maine workers, we urge the Department of Commerce to prioritize individual examinations of Irving and Catalyst through the expedited review process. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-statement-bath-iron-works-tentative-labor-contract-proposal	Collins, King Statement on Bath Iron Works Tentative Labor Contract Proposal	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Collins, King Statement on Bath Iron Works Tentative Labor Contract Proposal Posted Thu, 12/10/2015 - 00:00 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King issued the following statement today on the tentative labor contract proposal reached between Bath Iron Works andtheMachinists Union Local S6:Bath Iron Works and its highly-skilled workers are national strategic assets essential to our countrys defense and to our states economy. Simply put, there is no workforce better positioned to build the Zumwalt and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers than the men and women of BIW. We have secured funding for the construction of the DDG-1000s and the DDG-51s, and we remain strong advocates for BIWs opportunity to compete for the construction of the Coast Guards new Offshore Patrol Cutters, which would diversify BIWs workload,and forfutureArleigh Burke destroyers.We are very pleased that BIW management and labor union leadership have worked cooperatively to reach a tentative proposal for a labor contract. Conversations with senior Navy and Coast Guard officials convince us that cost is a key consideration in nearly every shipbuilding competition. That fact underscores the importance of BIWs ongoing work to increase operational efficiency at the shipyard because it must offer cost-effective bids in order to win these contracts.Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-concerned-about-shaws-decision-end-donations-food-banks	Pingree concerned about Shaw's decision to end donations to food banks	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	UPDATE: Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement after being contacted by Shaw's Supermarkets. Shaw's has told me they will reinstate the food donation program that benefits the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. That's great news for the program in Brunswick and I'm glad Shaw's reconsidered. But there are a lot of other hunger programs around the state that could benefit from donated food from Shaw's Supermarkets, and I'm looking forward to hearing from the company about why they are not reinstating donations in other locations as well. Pingree's letter to Shaw's is attached and pasted below. In the wake of recent news reports that Shaw's Supermarkets is ending the donation of surplus food to local soup kitchens and food banks, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree wrote to the president of the company today asking for an explanation. In a letter to Jim Rice, President of Shaw's and Start Markets, Pingree wrote: "I was very disappointed this week to learn that because of corporate policy, Shaw's stores in Maine have stopped donating perishable food to organizations that are helping feed Maine families in need. The loss of these contributions has had an ongoing harmful impact on food access throughout Maine, most recently with the loss of donations to the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. "I am writing to ask you to explain the corporate policy that has reportedly led to the decision to stop donations, and the reasoning behind it. I would also like to know if this decision is likely to lead to more food ending up in landfills," she wrote. Shaw's had been donating perishable food near its sell-by date to numerous local organizations that help feed Maine families struggling with hunger. According to news reports, Shaw's corporate policy has brought an end to those donations. An estimated 40% of food produced every year in the United States is wasted, meanwhile nearly 50 million people struggle with hunger. Pingree says if food waste is reduced by jus…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-statement-on-bath-iron-works-tentative-labor-contract-proposal	Collins, King Statement on Bath Iron Works Tentative Labor Contract Proposal	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Statement on Bath Iron Works Tentative Labor Contract Proposal Thursday, December 10, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King issued the following statement today on the tentative labor contract proposal reached between Bath Iron Works andtheMachinists Union Local S6: Bath Iron Works and its highly-skilled workers are national strategic assets essential to our countrys defense and to our states economy. Simply put, there is no workforce better positioned to build the Zumwalt- and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers than the men and women of BIW. We have secured funding for the construction of the DDG-1000s and the DDG-51s, and we remain strong advocates for BIWs opportunity to compete for the construction of the Coast Guards new Offshore Patrol Cutters, which would diversify BIWs workload,and forfutureArleigh Burke destroyers. We are very pleased that BIW management and labor union leadership have worked cooperatively to reach a tentative proposal for a labor contract. Conversations with senior Navy and Coast Guard officials convince us that cost is a key consideration in nearly every shipbuilding competition. That fact underscores the importance of BIWs ongoing work to increase operational efficiency at the shipyard because it must offer cost-effective bids in order to win these contracts. Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-committee-passes-king-backed-bill-to-revitalize-waterfront-communities	Senate Committee Passes King-Backed Bill to Revitalize Waterfront Communities	2015-12-10	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senate Committee Passes King-Backed Bill to Revitalize Waterfront Communities Supports local efforts to strengthen Maine waterfronts and promote economic development Thursday, December 10, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King announced today the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has passed the Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act, legislation he cosponsored that would boost efforts to revitalize waterfront communities. The bill now moves to the full Senate. Maines waterfront communities are not only a central part of our states heritage, but theyre also a crucial part of our states economy, generating hundreds of millions of dollars every year, Senator King said. These communities are also undergoing significant changes from modernizing outdated infrastructure to developing strategies to deal with climate change. This legislation would help streamline government resources for these communities so they can have the tools and resources needed to grow, adapt, and sustain themselves in the future. The Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act will support community efforts to make the most of water resources by attracting water-dependent industries and investments that leverage water-proximity to sustainably revitalize neighborhoods and enhance recreation and tourism. In addition, the bill will support communities to plan for their future and help them attract private and non-profit investment. Many waterfront communities were built around their water resources years ago, and they are now working to reposition and overcome issues such as limited public access and poor alignment with modern development. In addition to adapting to economic shifts, waterfront communities are facing pressures to meet increasing demands on water resources; make resilient investments that can withstand weather extremes like storms, floods, and fluctuating water levels; and adapt to changing ecosystem conditions that range fr…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-bipartisan-rewrite-no-child-left-behind-important-provisions-authored-senator	Senate Passes Bipartisan Rewrite of No Child Left Behind with Important Provisions Authored by Senator Collins	2015-12-09	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after the Senate passed the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act with strong support (85-12). This bicameral reform bill will replace No Child Left Behind with new policies that will return greater control and flexibility to states and local school districts. The legislation must now be signed into law by President Obama. Senator Collins spoke from the Senate floor yesterday in support of the legislation, stating, Providing a good education for every child must remain a national priority so each child fulfills his or her full potential, has a wide range of opportunities, and can succeed in an increasingly competitive economyCongressional action to fix the serious flaws with No Child Left Behind, while preserving the valuable parts of that law, is long overdue. That day has finally arrivedI know from having visited more than 200 schools in my state, that this legislation will be welcomed indeed. The Every Student Succeeds Act returns much needed flexibility to the state departments of education and to local school districts, where it belongs. Click HERE to read the full transcript of Senator Collins remarks from the floor. Senator Collins was selected to serve on the Conference Committee for the legislation, which worked to find compromise between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The Committee reported the final bill passed by the Senate today, which included two important provisions authored by Senator Collins: 1. An extension of the critically important Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) Program: Senator Collins co-authored this program with Senator Kent Conrad in 2002. REAP provides financial assistance to small and high-poverty rural districts to help address unique local needs and meet federal requirements. This program has been particularly helpful in Maine and has supported a variety of initiatives that benefit students and tea…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/video-house-floor-pingree-calls-reform-sell-dates	VIDEO: On House floor, Pingree calls for reform of sell-by dates	2015-12-09	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today, Congresswoman Pingree called for a reform in the way food is labeled with 'sell-by' dates."Every day in kitchens across this country, someone pulls a can of soup out of the cupboard or a box of pasta off the shelf, looks at the "best-by" date on the package, and tries to decide whether to throw it out or not," Pingree said. " Too often, perfectly good food gets thrown outcontributing to the 40% of all food that is wasted every year in this country. And much of it ends up in a landfill, where it produces methanea potent greenhouse gas. My bill has nearly two dozen proposals to reduce food waste, including a provision that would require manufacturers who do put a date on their food to include the words "Manufacturers suggestion only." Earlier this week Pingree introduced the Food Recovery Act (H.R. 4184)a comprehensive bill containing nearly two dozen proposals to reduce food waste, including a plan to reform the "best by" dates on food packages.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/protecting-our-homeland	Protecting Our Homeland	2015-12-09	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Yesterday, Maines Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, voted for a bill that will significantly strengthen U.S. visa policies to ensure that necessary mechanisms are in place to prevent terrorists from exploiting our Nations travel and customs rules. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement: As a proud cosponsor of this bipartisan and commonsense legislation, I am very pleased to see the House pass this measure to dramatically strengthen our Nations visa program and to protect our homeland, said Congressman Poliquin. Currently, citizens from 38 different countries are able to visit the United States for a 90 day period using only a passport. No additional screening is required at American embassies to receive visas. This makes it impossible to track these individuals if they stay over 90 days, and poses a major threat to our national security. We certainly still want to welcome business travelers and tourists to the United States, who contribute $220 billion and more than 1 million jobs each year to the U.S. economy through purchases of plane tickets, hotels, meals and so on. This bill, which I cosponsored, will cancel visa waivers for countries that do not share their intelligence data for potential terrorists with the FBI, do not screen travelers against INTERPOL criminal and suspected terrorist databases, and do not issue their citizens with biometric passports which cannot be counterfeited. With the serious and growing threats from radical terrorist groups that our Nation faces today, we must act to keep our families and communities safe. This is a strong step in protecting our homeland.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/working-hard-mainers-washington	Working Hard for Mainers in Washington	2015-12-09	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Today, legislation authored by Maines Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, passed through the House Financial Services Committee with broad bipartisan support, just after the Congressman had his first bill, the Child Support Assistance Act, signed into law earlier in the week. In a 55-1 vote, the Committee passed Congressman Poliquins bill, the Small Business Capital Formation Enhancement Act, which will make it easier for small businesses to access capital markets to grow and hire workers. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement: This legislation, which was nearly unanimously supported by my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, in the Financial Service Committee, is a great step forward in helping Maines small businesses and creating jobs in our State, said Congressman Poliquin. The Small Business Capital Formation Enhancement Act will make it easier for local businesses in Maine, which might not be able to get bank loans, to access capital markets to get the money they need to grow, hire more workers, and expand our economy. Small businesses cant grow without capital. This bill will give hardworking, local businesses the tools and support they need to grow and create jobs in our Second District.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20160225201139/http://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/king-urges-military-leader-to-cut-off-flow-of-heroin-at-southern-border	King Urges Military Leader to Cut Off Flow of Heroin At Southern Border	2015-12-09	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	web.archive.org	legacy	Your Neighborhood We know the value of people-to-people connections, and my state staff is committed to serving the people of Maine by getting out of the office and into your community. Click here to see where we will be this month.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-urges-military-leader-to-cut-off-flow-of-heroin-at-southern-border	King Urges Military Leader to Cut Off Flow of Heroin At Southern Border	2015-12-09	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Urges Military Leader to Cut Off Flow of Heroin At Southern Border Wednesday, December 9, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. During a confirmation hearing today before the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today urged the nominee for Commander of United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which oversees all military operations in Central and South America, to work to reduce the flow of heroin from those countries into the United States. We are, at this moment in time, suffering literally from a heroin epidemic all over the country, including, tragically, in my state of Maine. What is it that you need to interdict more of those ships [carrying heroin]? Senator King asked. Were spending a lot of time here talking about the threat of ISIS and in the meantime weve got this other threat that is killing, in my state, two or three hundred people a year. Assuming that you are approved at SOUTHCOM, youre going to be at the point of this, and to the extent that you can tell us what you need not necessarily in terms of military assets, but comprehensively because this is a true crisis in this country today and supply is part of the problem, Senator King continued. Obviously we need to talk about treatment and prevention and all of those issues, but supply is part of it and my understanding is a great deal of this heroin is coming up through south of our borders. In March 2015, General John Kelly, the current Commander of SOUTHCOM, testified before the Armed Services Committee that one hundred percent of the heroin entering the United States is produced in Latin America, with approximately half of it being produced in Mexico, which is a part of United States Northern Commands area of responsibility. In his testimony today, nominee Vice Admiral Kurt W. Tidd, USN said that demand for heroin has more than doubled since 2007, and that in response, criminal organizations have increased heroin production in Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala. In fact, according t…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-major-education-reform-bill	Senate Passes Major Education Reform Bill	2015-12-09	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senate Passes Major Education Reform Bill Legislation includes King-backed measures to close the Homework Gap and provide greater testing flexibility for states Wednesday, December 9, 2015 WASHINGTON D.C. With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the Senate today overwhelmingly passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, a major bipartisan education reform bill that curtails the burdensome requirements of No Child Left Behind, reduces reliance on high-stakes testing, and ensures access to a quality education for all students. Senator King released the following statement: Today is a victory for students, parents, and educators in Maine and across the country who have struggled for too long with unpredictable, top-down federal education policy that focused more on punishing schools than on promoting student achievement, Senator King said. This bipartisan bill will replace the broken No Child Left Behind law and finally turn the federal government into a partner in education rather than the obstacle it has been by empowering those who know our students best with the ability to make the decisions that will improve their futures. I commend Maines congressional delegation for their terrific work in reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, said Duke Albanese, former Maine Commissioner of Education and Senior Policy Advisor at the Great Schools Partnership. Educators and policymakers across Maine have been waiting for nearly eight years for Congress to act to ensure that the authority to set education policy is returned to the states and to school districts. This legislation will ensure that the needs and goals of Maine students can be adequately met by those closest to them. This is an important day for students, parents, and educators across the country, and I am pleased that Congress has finally completed the important task of reauthorizing this important law. The legislation also includes provisions authored by Senator King that will gr…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-trade-adjustment-assistance-displaced-expera-mill	Collins, King Announce Trade Adjustment Assistance for Displaced Expera Mill	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for the 195 workers displaced by the closure of the Expera Specialty Solutions pulp mill in Old Town has been approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. It is our hope that this announcement brings relief to the many hard-working men and women at the Old Town mill who, through no fault of their own, lost their jobs as a result of increased foreign competition, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. TAA assistance will help these workers get back on their feet by providing them with the opportunity to acquire the new skills and new training necessary to prepare for jobs in other industries. It is a crucial lifeline for workers in Maine and across the nation. In October, Senators Collins and King sent a letter to Labor Secretary Thomas Perez urging him to quickly approve this assistance. This June, the Senate passed a bipartisan reauthorization of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which was based upon The Trade Adjustment Assistance Enhancement Act of 2015 that Senator Collins co-authored with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). 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. In the 2013 fiscal year alone, more than 700 Mainers used TAA programs, and more than 70 percent of those participants found employment within three months of completing their retraining programs. In addition, of the participants who found employment, more than 90 percent were still employed in their new jobs six months later.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-collins-king-resolution-marking-december-12-2015-%E2%80%9Cwreaths-across-america-0	Senate Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 12, 2015 as Wreaths Across America Day	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating Saturday, December 12, 2015 as Wreaths Across America Day. On December 12th, a convoy of volunteers is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery to lay approximately 230,000 Maine-made balsam wreaths at the grave site of each American veteran interred there. This is the 24th consecutive year that Morrill and Karen Worcester, owners of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine will make this generous donation. The procession to Arlington began on December 6th in Harrington where Patriot Guard Riders continued their tradition of escorting the wreath trucks down the East Coast. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place wreaths at over 1,000 locations in all 50 states and in numerous national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil. Wreaths Across America is a powerful demonstration of respect and appreciation for our veterans both those that weve lost and those still with us that reminds them and their families that we are eternally grateful for their service and sacrifice, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. And this proud tradition, still going strong after the Worcesters started it 24 years ago, is built on the same spirit of generosity that helps make the holiday season so special. We are honored to join with the countless volunteers and supporters who come together to make Wreaths Across America possible and share in honoring and remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The resolutionis below: +++ Whereas, 24 years before the date of adoption of this resolution, the Wreaths Across America project began with an annual tradition that occurs in December, of donating, transporting, and placing 5,000 Maine balsam fir remembrance wreaths on the graves of the fallen heroes buried at Arlington National Cemetery; Whereas, in the 24 years preceding the date of adoption of this resolution, more tha…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-cites-maine-examples-opening-statement-senate-hearing-america%E2%80%99s-opioid	Senator Collins Cites Maine Examples in Opening Statement at Senate Hearing on Americas Opioid Epidemic	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE to Watch Senator Collins Opening Statement Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins cited Maine examples in her opening statement this morning at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing titled:Opioid Abuse in America: Facing the Epidemic and Examining Solutions. The hearing is currently ongoing and will examine the spectrum of issues related to prevention, treatment, and recovery of opioid addiction, including both prescription opioids and heroin. Senator Collins is a senior member of the HELP Committee. See below for a copy of Senator Collins remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray, for convening this hearing. In many states, including Maine, the prescription drug abuse crisis has also become a heroin crisis, overwhelming our communities and families, often with tragic consequences. Maine has been particularly hard hit by this epidemic: In 2014, there were 100 overdose deaths from heroin and other substances, that is up from only 16 in 2010. In the first half of this year, 63 opiate overdose deaths have been reported. In the month of July alone, the City of Portland had 14 suspected heroin overdoses, including two deaths in one day. The number of people seeking treatment for opiate use has more than tripled in the past four years. But perhaps most tragic is the impact on the most vulnerable in our society the babies born to addicts. In Maine, in the last fiscal year, nearly 1,000 babies were born drug and/or alcohol-addicted, a number which represents eight percent of all births in our state. Maine and New Hampshire have the dubious distinction of having the most prescriptions per person for long-acting and high-dose painkillers according to the CDC. And when those prescriptions lead to addiction, the next stop is too often heroin. According to a study by the Maine Sunday Telegram, international drug cartels and inner-city drug gangs have targeted Maine as an emerging and lucrative ma…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-and-king-announce-maine-nominees-united-states-military-service-academies	SENATORS COLLINS AND KING ANNOUNCE MAINE NOMINEES TO THE UNITED STATES MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom SENATORS COLLINS AND KING ANNOUNCE MAINE NOMINEES TO THE UNITED STATES MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES Posted Tue, 12/08/2015 - 16:55 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. We are proud to have the honor to nominate such an impressive group of Maine students to our nations 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: United States Naval Academy- AnnapolisName Home Town High SchoolJoseph Baumann Leeds Leavitt Area High SchoolMontana BraxtonCape Elizabeth Cape Elizabeth High SchoolLaura Anna CutlerWinter Harbor Phillips Exeter AcademySarah Eaton Cherryfield Narraguagus High SchoolEmma KnappFryeburg Vicenza High School (Italy)Abby LAbbe Topsham St. Dominic AcademyAnna LastraFryeburg Fryeburg AcademyEloise LienertBrunswick Brunswick High SchoolTaylor PerkinsGorham Gorham High SchoolG. Nicholas Rozsahegyi Rockport Camden Hills Regional High SchoolAbigail Runnells Saco Thornton AcademyCody Veilleux Waterville Waterville High SchoolJack Venden Yarmouth Yarmouth High SchoolTyler WaalerYarmouth Yarmouth High SchoolUnites States Military Academy West PointName Home Town High SchoolEmma BeginChelsea Hall-Dale High SchoolEmma BonnerEaston Easton Senior High SchoolBlake BourassaBangor Bangor High SchoolSeth DavisLiberty Mt. View High Schoo…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/poliquin-s-legislation-signed-law	Poliquins Legislation Signed Into Law	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Yesterday, the President signed the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 into law, which included Congressman Bruce Poliquins Child Support Assistance Act. This is Congressman Poliquins first bill signed into law. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement: I am very pleased that the language from my critical and bipartisan bill, the Child Support Assistance Act, was signed into law to stand up for children and families who are owed their support money, said Congressman Poliquin. My legislation will help our state and local support enforcement agencies aid families in collecting child support payments from delinquent parents. This is not a partisan issue, this is about our kids and ensuring they get the money theyre rightly owed. Chairman Jeb Hensarling of the House Financial Services Committee also released the following statement on the Congressmans language being signed into law: I am proud to work with Congressman Poliquin to get this important legislation signed into law, said Chairman Hensarling. Mr. Poliquins language will help thousands of families across the country, and I am pleased that it was officially adopted. Note: Congressman Poliquins language in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 will amend the FCRA to permit enforcement agencies to obtain consumer reports on delinquent parents in order to enforce child support payments, in a more timely manner, without giving a delinquent parent an opportunity to avoid child support payments. This bill will also expressly allow the enforcement agency to set an appropriate amount for child support payments and adjust the level as needed.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-trade-adjustment-assistance-for-displaced-expera-mill-workers	Collins, King Announce Trade Adjustment Assistance for Displaced Expera Mill Workers	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Announce Trade Adjustment Assistance for Displaced Expera Mill Workers Tuesday, December 8, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for the 195 workers displaced by the closure of the Expera Specialty Solutions pulp mill in Old Town has been approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. It is our hope that this announcement brings relief to the many hard-working men and women at the Old Town mill who, through no fault of their own, lost their jobs as a result of increased foreign competition, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. TAA assistance will help these workers get back on their feet by providing them with the opportunity to acquire the new skills and new training necessary to prepare for jobs in other industries. It is a crucial lifeline for workers in Maine and across the nation. In October, Senators Collins and King sent a letter to Labor Secretary Thomas Perez urging him to quickly approve this assistance. This June, the Senate passed a bipartisan reauthorization of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which was based upon The Trade Adjustment Assistance Enhancement Act of 2015 that Senator Collins co-authored with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). 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. In the 2013 fiscal year alone, more than 700 Mainers used TAA programs, and more than 70 percent of those participants found employment within three months of completing their retraining programs. In addition, of the participants who found employment, more than 90 percent were still employed in their new jobs six months later. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-fischer-introduce-bipartisan-paid-leave-bill	King, Fischer Introduce Bipartisan Paid Leave Bill	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King, Fischer Introduce Bipartisan Paid Leave Bill Strong Families Act Would Provide Tax Incentives to Employers Who Provide Paid Family or Medical Leave Tuesday, December 8, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) announced this morning they have reintroduced legislation that would offer employers incentives to voluntarily provide paid family or medical leave to their employees. The bill, known as S. 2354 The Strong Families Act, offers new options for working families. Senator King released the following statement: Because of our countrys outdated family leave policies, working parents too often have to struggle to balance the needs of their families and the needs of their job. Thats not how it should be in America today and thats why this legislation aims to provide them with the flexibility they need to succeed in both. By bringing family leave policies into the 21st century, we can make it easier for working Americans to make a living and take care of their families at the same time all of which will only help strengthen our workforce and allow us to better compete in todays global economy. Im pleased to join with Senator Deb Fischer to reintroduce this common sense and much-needed bill. Senator Fischer released the following statement: Im proud to join my friend Senator Angus King to reintroduce a bill to provide needed flexibility for working families. Employees face the increasingly complicated demands of caring for aging parents and young children while balancing careers and workplace schedules. Our bipartisan legislation is an important step forward to offer more workers, particularly low-wage, hourly workers, peace of mind and the opportunity to earn pay while meeting needs at home. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 requires employers of 50 or more employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. This time can be used for events like the birth or adoption of children, serious medical issu…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-mainegeneral-health-cyber-breach	King Statement on MaineGeneral Health Cyber Breach	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Statement on MaineGeneral Health Cyber Breach Tuesday, December 8, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement today following an announcement by MaineGeneral Health that its computer network had been breached: Numerous Maine businesses, including those in the health care sector, have told me that they are confronting thousands of attempts to hack their systems and steal sensitive data. Unfortunately, thats the sad reality of todays world where the click of a mouse can have seriously damaging consequences, Senator King said. I have contacted the FBI to inquire about the extent and severity of the data breach and will work with the both the Bureau and MaineGeneral to remedy the situation and to safeguard personal information. I will also continue to work to connect Maine businesses with cyber experts in the federal government so that they know where to turn to rapidly respond and prevent further losses. Everyone in Maine, in one form or another, shares personal information with businesses. Its just commonplace today. But its also why Maine people deserve the enhanced protection that would come as a result of Congress passing long-overdue cyber-security information sharing legislation. Todays breach further underscores how we need to push this bill across the finish-line to give Maine businesses, both large and small, improved tools to better protect themselves against cyber-attacks. Over the past few years, Senator Kings office has been in frequent contact with a variety of Maine businesses in the health, defense, financial, education, and consumer products sectors to understand how cyber-attacks and data breaches impact them. According to the Maine Credit Union League, data breaches over the past year in have cost Maine credit unions approximately $2 million to replace debit and credit cards and an additional $500,000 to cover fraud. Furthermore, one Maine healthcare provider …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-collins-king-resolution-marking-december-12-2015-as-wreaths-across-america-day	Senate Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 12, 2015 as “Wreaths Across America Day”	2015-12-08	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senate Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 12, 2015 as Wreaths Across America Day Tuesday, December 8, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating Saturday, December 12, 2015 as Wreaths Across America Day. On December 12th, a convoy of volunteers is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery to lay approximately 230,000 Maine-made balsam wreaths at the grave site of each American veteran interred there. This is the 24th consecutive year that Morrill and Karen Worcester, owners of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine will make this generous donation. The procession to Arlington began on December 6th in Harrington where Patriot Guard Riders continued their tradition of escorting the wreath trucks down the East Coast. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place wreaths at over 1,000 locations in all 50 states and in numerous national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil. Wreaths Across America is a powerful demonstration of respect and appreciation for our veterans both those that weve lost and those still with us that reminds them and their families that we are eternally grateful for their service and sacrifice, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. And this proud tradition, still going strong after the Worcesters started it 24 years ago, is built on the same spirit of generosity that helps make the holiday season so special. We are honored to join with the countless volunteers and supporters who come together to make Wreaths Across America possible and share in honoring and remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The resolution is available HERE and the full text is below: +++ Whereas, 24 years before the date of adoption of this resolution, the Wreaths Across America project began with an annual tradition that occurs in December, of donating, transporting, and placing 5…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-introducing-landmark-legislation-aimed-reducing-food-waste	Pingree introducing landmark legislation aimed at reducing food waste in grocery stores, restaurants, schools and farms	2015-12-07	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	(Portland, ME) At a press event at the Portland Food Co-Op, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said she will be introducing a bill today in Congress aimed at reducing the amount of food that is wasted each year in the United States. The Food Recovery Act includes nearly two dozen provisions to reduce food waste across the economy. "Forty percent of all food produced in the United States each year is wasted," Pingree said. "The Food Recovery Act takes a comprehensive approach to reducing the amount of food that ends up in landfills and at the same time reducing the number of Americans who have a hard time putting food on the table." Pingree was joined by dozens of people representing groups and organizations from throughout Maine as she announced the bill today. Representatives from Hannaford Supermarkets, the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Portland Food Co-Op and Agri-Cycle Energy all spoke at the press conference. Pingree's bill tackles wasted food in four areas--at the consumer level, in grocery stores and restaurants, in schools and other institutions, and on the farm. At the consumer level, Pingree's bill requires any manufacturer who wants to put a date on their food to use the words "Best if used by" and alsoin letters just as bigthe words "Manufacturer's suggestion only." "Currently there are NO federal laws regarding expiration dates," Pingree said. "Manufacturers can go overboard with the dates they put on foodand it can lead to consumers and retailers throwing out perfectly good food." "Wasted food costs us over $160 billion a year in this country," Pingree said. "That works out to about $125 a month fora family of four. We can save money and feed more Americans if we reduce the amount of food that ends up getting sent to landfills." Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, co-founder of Food Policy Action and owner/chef of Crafted Hospitality, praised Pingree's bill. "Wasting food is bad for the economy, bad for the environment and bad for Americans who are struggling to afford healthy food to feed their families. Congressw…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-and-king-attend-wreaths-across-america-ceremony-us-capitol	Senators Collins and King Attend Wreaths Across America Ceremony at U.S. Capitol	2015-12-07	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Photo 1: Senators Collins and King observe a moment of silence Photo 2: Senators Collins and King during the ceremony Photo 3: The Maine made wreath laid at the U.S. Capitol WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King took part in the Wreaths Across America Capitol wreath laying ceremony this morning in Washington. Beginning in 2007, and each December since, Wreaths Across America, based out of Columbia Falls, Maine, has placed a Remembrance Wreath at the U.S. Capitol Building. The wreath laid at the U.S. Capitol is adorned with flags representing each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and POWs/MIAs, and decorated with a red bow. During the ceremony, which coincided with similar ceremonies at all 50 state capitols across our country, Senators Collins and King delivered remarks and joined in a moment of silence to reflect on the holiday season and to honor and remember our nations veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices. Wreaths Across America is a powerful demonstration of respect and appreciation for our veterans both those that weve lost and those still with us, said Senators Collins and King. The mission of Wreaths Across America is: Remember. Honor. Teach. Thanks to the spirit of this Maine-made tradition, we will remember and honor Americas veterans this holiday season, while also teaching generations to come of the sacrifices that have been made to secure our freedoms and to defend our liberty. A convoy of volunteers and approximately 248,000 Maine-made balsam wreaths departed from Maine this past Sunday, December 6th, and is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery on December 12th. Between 30,000 and 40,000 volunteers are expected to lay the wreaths at the graves of each American veteran. This is the 24th consecutive year that Morrill and Karen Worcester, owners of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine will make this generous donation. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place more than 900,000 wreaths at over 1…	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-1	Congresswoman Pingree nominates 23 Maine students to United States Service Academies	2015-12-07	2015	2015-12	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. Pingree nominated several students to more than one academy. United States Naval Academy Emma Begin, Chelsea, Hall-Dale High School Hayden Eilinger, Hollis Center, Bonny Eagle High School Gail Johnson, Portland, Waynflete Eric Kousky, Brunswick, University of San Diego, Brunswick High School (prior) Thanakrit Manjai, Windham, Naval Academy Preparatory School, Windham High School (prior) Jenna Petrovic, Winslow, Winslow High School Lukas Pushor, Portland, Falmouth High School David Stansfield, Berwick, Noble High School Chris Tomascak, Portland, New Mexico MilItary Institute, Portland High School (prior) Jackson Vail, Waldoboro, Medomak Valley High School United States Military Academy Emma Begin, Chelsea, Hall-Dale High School Jacob Connors, Kennebunk, Norwich University, Kennebunk High School (prior) Martin Dioli, Yarmouth, Salisbury School Elaine Dudley, North Waterboro, Massabesic High School Taylor Perkins, Gorham, Gorham High …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/18-maine-students-nominated-us-military-service-academies	18 Maine Students Nominated for U.S. Military Service Academies	2015-12-07	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	BANGOR Today, Maines Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, announced that he has nominated 18 students from Maines Second District to attend one of the Nations prestigious military service academies next year. The Congressman will personally call each nominee to congratulate them and host a celebration in their honor in early 2016. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement: It is a great honor to nominate these young, dedicated Mainers to be considered for admission at our Nations fine military service academies, said Congressman Poliquin. These outstanding men and women impressed me with their incredible record of service already to their studies, communities and this Great Country. They truly are among the best and brightest and give me great hope for the future of our Armed Forces, our Nation and the cause of freedom. I thank them for their sacrifice and wish them the best of luck in their future service. Congressman Poliquins nominations were informed by the recommendations of his distinguished Service Academy Nomination Advisory Board, which personally interviewed student applicants last month in Bangor. That board included military, community and educational leaders and had nearly 200 years of combined service in the United States Army, Air Force and Navy. To be considered for appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by a Member of Congress or other authorized nominating source. The following is the full list of Second District students who received Congressman Poliquins nomination as candidates to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York; the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York: Joseph Baumann, Leeds, Leavitt Area High School: U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy Emma Bonner, Easton, Easton Jr/Sr High School: U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy Blake Bourassa, Bangor, Bangor High Scho…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-announces-two-portland-high-school-students-as-interns-in-scarborough-office	King Announces Two Portland High School Students as Interns in Scarborough Office	2015-12-07	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Announces Two Portland High School Students as Interns in Scarborough Office Monday, December 7, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King announced today that Oona Mackinnon Hoban and Eamonn Dundon of Portland High School will serve as part-time interns in his Scarborough office. The internship, which will provide both students with school credit, is the result of a collaborative effort with the nonprofit Jobs for Maines Graduates (JMG) and Portland High School aimed at giving local students an opportunity to learn more about the work of a U.S. Senators office through observation, assistance, and mentoring. Im delighted to welcome Oona and Eamonn to my Scarborough office. Both of them are outstanding students and hard workers, and I look forward to having them involved in the legislative process on behalf of the people of Maine, Senator King said. I also want to thank everyone at Jobs for Maines Graduates for working with my office to make this internship possible and applaud them for all of their meaningful work to help students across the state. We are extremely pleased with the continued development of the relationship being forged between Portland High School and Senator Kings office, said Eric Moynihan, JMG Expanded Learning Opportunities Coordinator at Portland High School. This tremendous opportunity is the second internship offered to PHS students by the Senators office in three years. Expanded Learning Opportunities like these internships provide relevant, real-world experiences, are invaluable to the student and are an integral piece of the Portland High School model of education. A junior at Portland High School, Oona Mackinnon-Hoban is involved in student government, the drama program, and numerous other clubs, including the Womens Rights Club and the Shakespeare Club. Outside of school, she is a member of the girl choir Musica de Filia, and also enjoys writing in her spare time. She was a national semifinalist at the American Legion Oratorical Contes…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-attend-wreaths-across-america-ceremony-at-us-capitol	Senators Collins and King Attend Wreaths Across America Ceremony at U.S. Capitol	2015-12-07	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins and King Attend Wreaths Across America Ceremony at U.S. Capitol Monday, December 7, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King took part in the Wreaths Across America Capitol wreath laying ceremony this morning in Washington. Beginning in 2007, and each December since, Wreaths Across America, based out of Columbia Falls, Maine, has placed a Remembrance Wreath at the U.S. Capitol Building. The wreath laid at the U.S. Capitol is adorned with flags representing each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and POWs/MIAs, and decorated with a red bow. During the ceremony, which coincided with similar ceremonies at all 50 state capitols across our country, Senators Collins and King delivered remarks and joined in a moment of silence to reflect on the holiday season and to honor and remember our nations veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices. Wreaths Across America is a powerful demonstration of respect and appreciation for our veterans both those that weve lost and those still with us, said Senators Collins and King. The mission of Wreaths Across America is: Remember. Honor. Teach. Thanks to the spirit of this Maine-made tradition, we will remember and honor Americas veterans this holiday season, while also teaching generations to come of the sacrifices that have been made to secure our freedoms and to defend our liberty. A convoy of volunteers and approximately 248,000 Maine-made balsam wreaths departed from Maine this past Sunday, December 6th, and is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery on December 12th. Between 30,000 and 40,000 volunteers are expected to lay the wreaths at the graves of each American veteran. This is the 24th consecutive year that Morrill and Karen Worcester, owners of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine will make this generous donation. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place more than 900,000 wreaths at over 1,000 locations in all 50 states and numerou…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/biw-line-get-contract-build-additional-destroyer	BIW in line to get contract to build additional destroyer	2015-12-05	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today that Bath Iron Works is in line to get an agreement to build another DDG 51 destroyer, in addition to the five that the yard already has contracted with the Navy for. The contract for the extra ship is triggered by a 2002 agreement with the Navy that gives BIW another DDG 51 if the Huntington Ingalls Shipyard in Mississippi is awarded a contract to build an amphibious attack ship. The Navy announced yesterday that they had agreed to build that amphibious ship in Mississippi and would honor the swap with BIW. "The DDG-51s have been real workhorses for the Navy and building more of them at BIW is a smart investment," Pingree said. "Bath is building high quality ships incredibly efficiently, and it makes sense to keep that highly skilled workforce fully employed. I've pushed for the Navy to honor this swap agreement and I'm glad they intend to do so." Congress would still have to come up with funding to build another DDG-51 in Bath. Pingree, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, has been pushing to make funding available to finance the swap agreement and build the extra destroyer at BIW.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/combat-roles-will-be-open-women	Combat roles will be open to women	2015-12-03	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement after Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that the Pentagon will open all combat roles in the military to women. "The Pentagon has made the right decision in opening every job in the military to women. Women have already served bravely and capably while wearing the uniform of the American military in some of the most dangerous spots on earth. They have proven themselves over and over again, and it's high time we stopped banning them from key jobs and opportunities in the Armed Forces."	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-poliquin-amendment-1	House Passes Poliquin Amendment	2015-12-03	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to adopt Congressman Bruce Poliquins amendment to the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act. Congressman Poliquins amendment clarifies that electric plants can be considered reliable without having to enter into supply contacts that are greater than one year. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement: I am very pleased my colleagues in the House supported my amendment to allow reliable and efficient energy producers to operate without arbitrary restraints from regulators, said Congressman Poliquin. Low-cost, carbon-neutral biomass technology is transforming our communities in Maine. As Americas wood basket, Maine is one of the primary producers of reliable biomass energy. My amendment will create jobs for Mainers by giving the biomass and wood products industries in our State regulatory certainty. It ensures that all power sources are able to compete on a fair playing fieldparticularly biomass energy, which typically only can get supply for 12 months in advanceby revising the standard for all fuels so as to not favor one over the other. It recognizes that some new and cleaner fuel sources, like biomass, are in more cyclical markets. In addition, this amendment will make affordable energy available for thousands by lifting burdensome regulations on clean and dependable American energy producers, specifically Maines quality biomass plants.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cotton-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-counterterrorism-tools-in-wake-of-paris-san-bernardino-attacks	King, Cotton Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Counterterrorism Tools in Wake of Paris, San Bernardino Attacks	2015-12-03	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King, Cotton Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Counterterrorism Tools in Wake of Paris, San Bernardino Attacks Thursday, December 3, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. In the wake of the brutal terrorist attacks in Paris last month, as well as initial reports that this weeks attack in San Bernardino may be tied to terrorism, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) today introduced legislation that would ensure that U.S. counterterrorism officials have the necessary tools to track suspected terrorists and prevent terrorist attacks in the United States. The first line of defense against terrorism is intelligence, and today, our government is reliant on telecommunication companies to retain records that we use to connect the dots that can help us prevent attacks, Senator King said. Our legislation would simply require that U.S. officials are provided with adequate warning if a company decides it no longer will hold these vital records, allowing time to ensure that we dont lose a potentially valuable tool in the battle against terrorism. Our Intelligence Community and Law Enforcement professionals are skilled at connecting the dots to thwart and respond to terrorist attacks. But if there are no dots to connect, those skills wont do us any good, Senator Cotton said. The King-Cotton legislation will help preserve metadata currently stored by phone carriers by forcing them to notify the federal government if they change the amount of time they retain billing records to less than 18 months. This will give Congress and the Executive Branch an opportunity to respond before those dots are lost forever. Signed into law on June 2, 2015, the USA Freedom Act requires the government to apply to the FISA Court for an order to retrieve call detail records, which include telephone numbers and not the content of calls from telecommunications carriers. As of that date, the Act gave the government 180 days to end its bulk collection of call detail records, which expired on November 2…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-opposes-effort-to-repeal-affordable-care-act	King Opposes Effort to Repeal Affordable Care Act	2015-12-03	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Opposes Effort to Repeal Affordable Care Act Thursday, December 3, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted against legislation that would repeal the Affordable Care Act and deny federal funding to Planned Parenthood facilities across the country: The Affordable Care Act has provided thousands of people in Maine and millions more across the country with affordable, high-quality health insurance, Senator King said. Rather than try to take that away, Congress should focus on how we can improve and strengthen the law so that we can extend health insurance to even more people in this country who need it. Thats how we best serve the people who sent us here and, frankly, they deserve nothing less. Today, the Senate voted and, regrettably, passed legislation that would repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The President has said he will veto the bill. Todays vote represents the 16th time that the Senate has voted to repeal all or part of the ACA. The House of Representatives has voted more than 50 times to do the same. The Affordable Care Act provides more than 70,000 people in Maine with health insurance. In addition to lowering health care costs, the landmark health care law, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court multiple times, prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to people due to pre-existing conditions, eliminates lifetime caps on insurance, and allows children to remain on their parents insurance until the age of 26. The law has also contributed millions of dollars in funding to community health centers across the state of Maine, which serve the health care needs of hundreds of thousands of people. The legislation would also eliminate all federal funding to Planned Parenthood facilities across the country, including the four that operate in Maine, which provide important family planning, cancer screenings, and basic preventive health care services. Senator King voted in favor of an amendment offered by Senator Susan Coll…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/transportation-bill-with-king-backed-measures-passes-senate	Transportation Bill with King-Backed Measures Passes Senate	2015-12-03	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Transportation Bill with King-Backed Measures Passes Senate Bill also renews Export-Import Bank, streamlines federal permitting process, and delivers regulatory relief to small banks Thursday, December 3, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the Senate tonight overwhelmingly approved a long-term transportation bill that authorizes $305 billion in funding over the next five years for vital transportation infrastructure projects across the country. The bill will result in increased highway and transit funding for Maine and also includes several provisions either authored or strongly supported by Senator King. Our countrys aging transportation infrastructure has been crumbling under our feet as Congress passed one short-term fix after the other. With this bill, Congress has crafted a long-term solution that provides stable and predictablefunding to improve our transportation network, bolster commerce, and put people to work doing it, Senator King said. The bill is by no means perfect, but at the end of the day, its a step forward for the American people and our country. The legislation passed this evening, titled the FAST Act, would provide an increased and stable source of funding for highway, transit, and other infrastructure projects, and is the product of extensive bipartisan negotiations between leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives. If signed into law, the legislation will provide Maine with a five percent increase in highway funding and an eight percent increase in transit funding in the first year of the bill and result in a 15 percent increase in highway funding and an 18 percent increase in transit by the last year. For more information on how the bill will impact infrastructure projects in Maine, clickHERE. Senator King has repeatedly called for a long-term highway solution and has been critical of Congress for passing 36 short-term highway extensions over the past several years, which has only created…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-votes-reauthorization-elementary-and-secondary-education-act	Pingree votes for reauthorization of Elementary and Secondary Education Act	2015-12-02	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today voted in support of conference legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The legislation overturns many elements of the last reauthorization, known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), which was passed in 2001. For years, I have heard from teachers, parents, and students about their frustrations with No Child Left Behind. Im pleased that we could finally reauthorize this key piece of legislation and make needed changes to federal policies that havent been working for our schools, said Pingree. The Every Student Succeeds Act gives states and school districts more flexibility while maintaining the necessary guardrails to ensure that all children have equal access to a high-quality education. It also takes steps to reduce redundant and unnecessary testing, and emphasizes the importance of a well-rounded education that will prepare our kids to be creative and engaged thinkers. I look forward to seeing the bill passed by the Senate and signed by the President so our educators can stop worrying about shifting federal priorities and instead focus all their attention where it should be--students."	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-shootings-san-bernardino-california	Statement on shootings in San Bernardino, California	2015-12-02	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement on the shootings today in San Bernardino, California "My thoughts are with the people of San Bernardino as they deal with the aftermath of this brutal attack. Once again we find ourselves mourning innocent victims of gun violence, yet Congress continues to refuse to act on even the most common-sense reforms to address this epidemic of mass shootings."	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-application-period-for-assistance-to-firefighters-grants	Collins, King Announce Application Period for Assistance to Firefighters Grants	2015-12-02	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Announce Application Period for Assistance to Firefighters Grants Wednesday, December 2, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and Angus King, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin accepting applications for grant funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program on Monday, December 7th at 8:00 a.m. The application period will close on January 15, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. The AFG Program funding assists fire departments and nonaffiliated ambulance and emergency medical service organizations in meeting their firefighting and emergency response needs. The program provides federal funding that enables these organizations to purchase equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources to better protect the public and emergency personnel. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides invaluable support to protect the firefighters and emergency health professionals who risk their lives protecting us every day, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We encourage Maine fire departments and emergency organizations to utilize this program for help obtaining the vital resources they need to do their jobs. Grant guidance for fire departments and other organizations interested in applying for AFG grants is available at www.grants.gov and at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants/afggrants/index.shtm. Applicants that require assistance should go to www.fema.gov/grants, or contact the AFG Help Desk at firegrants@fema.gov or by calling 1-866-274-0960. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-applaud-196-million-for-maine-water-infrastructure-projects	Collins, King Applaud $19.6 Million for Maine Water Infrastructure Projects	2015-12-02	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Applaud $19.6 Million for Maine Water Infrastructure Projects Wednesday, December 2, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today applauded an announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the State of Maine will receive $19.6 million to support water infrastructure projects. The funds will be used to upgrade sewage plants and drinking water systems, replace aging infrastructure, and bolster water projects essential to environmental protection and public health safety across the state. Maintaining strong water infrastructure is critical to ensuring the health of Maine people, Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. We welcome this funding from the EPA, which will help upgrade water treatment systems that will result in improved water quality and public health. The $19.6 million is distributed as follows: The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program, administrated by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Maine Municipal Bond Bank (MMBB), received $10.8 million. EPAs funding provides low-interest loans for water quality protection projects to make improvements to wastewater treatment systems, control pollution from stormwater runoff, and protect sensitive water bodies and estuaries. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program, administrated by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and MMBB, received $8.8 million. EPAs funding provides low-interest loans to finance improvements to drinking water systems, with a particular focus on providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water. According to the EPA, since the beginning of this program, approximately $497 million has been awarded to Maine for the construction, expansion and upgrading of clean water infrastructure resulting in decreased pollutant loadings to waterbodies through…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-wake-of-paris-attacks-collins-king-cosponsor-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-visa-waiver-program	In Wake of Paris Attacks, Collins, King Cosponsor Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Visa Waiver Program	2015-12-02	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	In Wake of Paris Attacks, Collins, King Cosponsor Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Visa Waiver Program Wednesday, December 2, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, have joined with Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) to introduce bipartisan legislation that would strengthen the security of the Visa Waiver Program to help prevent terrorists from entering the United States. Protecting the safety and security of the people of Maine and across our country remains our most important consideration as we seek to combat ISIS, said Senator Collins. While most of the refugees are fleeing the same terrorists in their home countries that concern us as Americans, we must assume that ISIS will exploit any opportunity to attack the American people, our allies in Europe, or Muslims who do not share their extremist ideology. This bipartisan legislation tightens the Visa Waiver Program to help prevent Islamic terrorists and other radical extremists from hijacking the program to enter the United States from trusted countries without a visa and the scrutiny it entails. The Visa Waiver Program is an important tool that has increased the ease of travel between member countries and improved security measures associated with that travel, Senator King said. But with an increasing number of citizens from visa waiver countries traveling to the Middle East and North Africa to train and fight in support of terrorism, its critical that we ensure the program cant be exploited as a potential gateway to the United States. Thats why Congress should immediately strengthen the Visa Waiver program to reflect the realities of todays world. Doing so will help deny terrorists an opportunity to do us harm and take a substantial step towards better protecting the American people. The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of participating countries, including most of those in Europe, to travel to the United States withou…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-scores-legislative-hat-trick-in-federal-highway-bill	King Scores Legislative Hat-Trick in Federal Highway Bill	2015-12-02	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Scores Legislative Hat-Trick in Federal Highway Bill Bill renews Export-Import Bank, streamlines federal permitting process, and delivers regulatory relief to small banks Wednesday, December 2, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. An agreement reached yesterday on a long-term highway funding bill includes a hat-trick of legislative victories for Maine long championed by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine). In addition to providing an increased and stable source of funding for highway, transit, and other infrastructure projects, the legislation would (1) reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, (2) boost jobs by simplifying the federal permitting process for major projects, and (3) deliver regulatory relief to small banks. I am pleased that Senate and House negotiators have reached an agreement to move forward with a long-term bill that will provide a stable source of funding to properly invest in repairing our roads, bridges, and other vital infrastructure. After far too many short-term patches, this bill while not perfect is a positive step forward that will improve our transportation network, bolster the economy, and better protect the safety of traveling Americans, Senator King said. This bill also renews the Export-Import Bank, which supports jobs in Maine, makes significant strides in reducing government red tape to help businesses grow and thrive, and makes it easier for small banks across Maine to serve their customers, Senator King said. These measures will go a long way to supporting jobs in Maine, and I look forward to getting this much-needed bill across the finish-line. The 5-year highway bill announced yesterday titled the FAST Act will provide Maine with a five percent increase in highway funding and an eight percent increase in transit funding in the first year of the bill and result in a 15 percent increase in highway funding and an 18 percent increase in transit by the last year. For more information on how the bill will impact infrastructure projects in Mai…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-funding-award-for-maine-maritime-academy	Senators Collins, King Announce Funding Award for Maine Maritime Academy	2015-12-02	2015	2015-12	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins, King Announce Funding Award for Maine Maritime Academy Wednesday, December 2, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. United States Senators Susan Collins, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King, member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today announced an award of $469,000 to the Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funding will support the Marine Engine Testing and Emissions Laboratory (METEL) at MMA. Finding practical solutions for reducing harmful emissions is a top priority, and we are pleased that the U.S. Department of Transportation has recognized the tremendous work being done by Maine Maritime Academy at its Marine Engine Testing and Emissions Laboratory, said Senators Collins and King in a statement. This investment will enable the Academy, in partnership with the University of Maine, to continue to develop emissions reductions and efficiency solutions for marine diesel engines, conduct critical research, and help to advance the maritime industry. This grant was provided through the U.S. Department of Transportations University Transportation Center Discretionary Grants. Intended to advance U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines of transportation through the mechanisms of education, research and technology transfer at university-based centers of excellence, the U.S. Department of Transportation chooses internationally recognized centers of excellence, fully integrated within institutions of higher learning, that serve as a vital source of leaders who are prepared to meet the nations need for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound movement of people and goods. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-applauds-climate-change-talks-paris	Pingree applauds climate change talks in Paris	2015-12-01	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today applauded the meeting of world leaders in Paris this week to negotiate a global strategy for addressing climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Its powerful to see so many world leaders come together to acknowledge the harsh reality of climate change and commit to addressing it. I especially appreciate President Obamas leadership in taking steps to cut our greenhouse gas emissions while building our economy through clean energy, said Pingree. Whether its rising sea levels, ocean acidification, or declining fisheries, were already seeing the effects of climate change in Maine. I hope that the conversations in Paris yield effective and comprehensive actions to head off even worse impacts here and around the world. While talks in Paris go on, the House is set to vote this week on legislation that would overturn the EPAs Clean Power Plan, which cuts emissions from power plants, the countrys largest source of greenhouse gases. As countries across the world come together to fight climate change, America must also do its part, said Pingree. This legislation would not only undercut our leadership, but create serious harm to ourselves and future generations. Pingree is a vice-chair of the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/world-aids-day-2015	World AIDS Day 2015 statement	2015-12-01	2015	2015-12	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	As we mark World AIDS Day today, I join many in Maine and around the world in recommitting ourselves to ending this terrible disease. There are reasons to be hopeful. The expansion of antiretroviral drugs has helped save millions of lives and kept millions more from becoming infected. But we must do more. We must continue to support those living with HIV and AIDS, make sure they get the treatment they need, and promote testing and prevention in the U.S. and abroad. For the lives weve lost and the lives we can save, I will continue advocating for these efforts in Congress. --Congresswoman Chellie Pingree	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-welcomes-epa-decision-withdraw-approval-toxic-weedkiller	Pingree welcomes EPA decision to withdraw approval of toxic weedkiller	2015-11-30	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today applauded the EPAs decision to withdraw its approval of Dow Chemicals Enlist Duo, a toxic cocktail of herbicides glyphosate and 2,4-D. This productand the GMO crops developed to go along with ithas raised a number of alarm bells. From the onset, Ive had grave concerns that it would increase the amount of carcinogenic herbicides sprayed on our food, lead to ever-stronger superweeds, and eliminate habitat for species like the Monarch butterfly, said Pingree. Im relieved that the EPA has revoked its initial approval, citing new information that shows its harmful impact on non-target species. I will keep pushing the EPA to keep this product off the shelves for good. Pingree has been a leading voice in opposing Enlist Duo as well as GMO corn and soybeans that were developed to withstand it. During the EPAs initial review of the product in 2014, Pingree led a letter to the agency signed by 49 of her colleagues in opposition to its approval. The approval of Roundup Ready GMO crops in the 1990s increased herbicide use by 527 million pounds between 1996 and 2011. Such widespread overuse of herbicides has led to chemical-resistant superweeds that are posing ever-increasing challenges to farmers. When Enlist Duo inevitably leads to its own resistant weeds, Im sure the chemical industry will have an answermore toxic chemicals and GMO plants, said Pingree. Its a frightening, self-perpetuating cycle that needs to be stopped.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/poliquin-introduces-bill-require-state-and-local-approval-national	Poliquin Introduces Bill to Require State and Local Approval for National Monument Designations	2015-11-30	2015	2015-11	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Today, Maines Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, introduced the Preserving State Rights Act. This bill would require any national monument designation by the President to first be approved by the governor and state legislature where the land is located. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement: Any process to incorporate federal land in Maine must have strong support from the local community, said Congressman Poliquin. The legislative process is set up to create checks and balances and to ensure constituent voices are heard in Washington. Bypassing the legislative processto unilaterally designate land as federal landresulting in fundamentally changing a region in Maine, or anywhere, is not democratic. That is why I introduced the Preserving State Rights Act. This bill would still grant the President the authority to designate monuments, but requires that any governor, in any year or any state, and state legislature sign off on any such designation. This is a common-sense solution to ensure that local voices are heard and considered. In addition, as a proud member of the House Private Property Rights Caucus, I believe private land owners should be able to donate their land as they see fit, but I have grave concerns about the Executive Branch using its power to unilaterally designate a national monument in our state, or other states, where the local residents have voted in opposition to a national park in their backyards. In Congress, I have demonstrated that my top priority is to create a better business climate in Maine. I want to give local citizens a voice in any federal land acquisition and to promote local industries, give opportunity for jobs to grow in Maine and to maintain public access to camping, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. Click HERE to see the full text of the bill.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-epa-administrator-tour-westbrook-farm-hold-roundtable-for-maine-farmers-on-clean-water-rule	King, EPA Administrator Tour Westbrook Farm, Hold Roundtable for Maine Farmers on Clean Water Rule	2015-11-30	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King, EPA Administrator Tour Westbrook Farm, Hold Roundtable for Maine Farmers on Clean Water Rule King continues to press EPA to clarify rule and issue clearer compliance guidelines for Maine farmers Monday, November 30, 2015 WESTBROOK, ME Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy toured Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook and held a roundtable with agricultural officials from across the state to discuss the EPAs Clean Water Rule and its impact on farmers in Maine. The roundtable follows a letter to the agency led by Senator King and signed by ten of his colleagues expressing concern over the ambiguity of the rule and how it may create uncertainty that could have a detrimental impact on farming operations in Maine. During the roundtable today, Senator King joined with farmers from across the state to reiterate those concerns to Administrator McCarthy, and he also pledged to continue to work with the EPA to see that the agency clarifies agricultural exemptions and provides more concise compliance guidelines for Maine farmers. No one is more committed to preserving and protecting the environment than the people of Maine. Our natural resources are not only a hallmark of our state, but theyre also the foundation of our economy, Senator King said. But for Maines farmers and for everyone who relies on the land for a living, the ambiguity of the Clean Water Rule has caused a lot of justifiable concern. Farmers here just want to know that they wont have to hire a lawyer or a soil scientist to dig something like an irrigation ditch, and the EPA owes it to them to address those concerns, clarify the rule, and provide more concise compliance guidance. Todays roundtable was a positive step in that direction, and I look forward to further engaging with the EPA to ensure that it enacts a common-sense rule that protects the environment and allows our farmers to do their jobs. Earlier this year, the EPA and t…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-announce-more-than-400000-in-grant-funding-to-assist-maine-families-living-in-public-housing	Senators Collins and King Announce More Than $400,000 in Grant Funding to Assist Maine Families Living in Public Housing	2015-11-30	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Senators Collins and King Announce More Than $400,000 in Grant Funding to Assist Maine Families Living in Public Housing Monday, November 30, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins, the Chairman the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Angus King today announced that several housing authorities and municipalities in Maine will receive a total of $439,537 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grant funding will come through HUDs Family Self-Sufficiency Program and will be used to help public housing residents and individuals participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Program increase their education and gain marketable skills that will allow them to find employment and advance in their current work. Public Housing Authorities in Maine play an indispensable role in helping some of our most vulnerable citizens find safe and affordable housing, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This funding will provide crucial support to individuals and families across our state, connecting them with a range of job training and educational services. HUDs Family Self Sufficiency program intends to help low-income families who receive federal housing assistance receive training and education, find jobs, save money, and eventually become financially independent. The awards are as follows: Augusta Housing Authority, $32,484 Bangor Housing Authority, $57,050 Housing Authority of the City of Brewer, $52,832 City of Caribou, $48,729 Housing Authority of the City of Old Town, $23,972 Lewiston Housing Authority, $57,820 Maine State Housing Authority, $54,031 Portland Housing Authority, $72,012 Westbrook Housing Authority, $40,607 ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-statement-colorado-shooting	Pingree statement on Colorado shooting	2015-11-28	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement in response to the shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado yesterday. "The events in Colorado are another vicious and violent attack on women's healthcare. My thoughts are with the families of the innocent victims and the police officers killed and injured while protecting them. "The only person responsible for these attacks is the shooter who entered that clinic. But the recent smear campaign and systematic political attacks on Planned Parenthood have created an environment that could encourage deranged individuals to carry out violent attacks like the one that happened yesterday."	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/wgans-inside-maine-with-senator-angus-king-and-bruce-bickford-from-starc-systems-november-2015	WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Bruce Bickford from STARC Systems, November 2015	2015-11-28	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Bruce Bickford from STARC Systems, November 2015	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/wgans-inside-maine-with-senator-angus-king-and-steve-levesque-executive-director-of-the-midcoast-regional-redevelopment-authority-november-2015	WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and MRRA Executive Director Steve Levesque, November 2015	2015-11-28	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and MRRA Executive Director Steve Levesque, November 2015	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-says-ocean-renewable-power-company-will-receive-225-million	Pingree says Ocean Renewable Power Company will receive $2.25 million federal grant	2015-11-24	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today announced that Portland-based Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) has won a $2,248,223 grant from the Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The investment will allow the company to develop ways to lower the costs of deploying, retrieving, and anchoring their tidal and river power turbines, making them more commercially competitive. It's been very exciting to watch ORPC develop innovative technology to generate sustainable, clean power from tides and riversall while creating and saving over a hundred jobs in 14 Maine counties, said Pingree. As ORPC takes its technology to new markets, this federal investment will help them fine-tune their products so they are better able to compete with other power sources. I'm pleased that I had the opportunity to talk to Secretary Moniz about this great company and am glad that they were chosen for this significant award. Pingree recently met with Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to tout ORPC's work. The grant for ORPC is one of 41 awards totaling $125 million to pursue novel approaches to energy innovation while combating climate change and moving toward a low-carbon economy. Below is a description from ARPA-E on the award. Ocean Renewable Power Company, Portland, ME ($2,248,223) - Deployment and Retrieval System for Cross-flow Hydrokinetic Turbines Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) will develop an innovative deployment and retrieval capability that will significantly reduce costs for cross-flow design marine hydrokinetic systems, in which a turbine generates power from tides and/or rivers. The turbine blades will employ active pitch control to allow for thrust generation in deployment/retrieval mode and higher efficiency in power generation mode. If successful, this project could reduce the cost of the installation process in which ORPC's turbine could be placed in the water near shore, self-propel to the deployment location, and hold itself in place on the seafloor through redirected downwar…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-announces-proposal-to-create-national-mail-back-drug-program	King Announces Proposal to Create National Mail-Back Drug Program	2015-11-24	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	King Announces Proposal to Create National Mail-Back Drug Program Based on successful Maine pilot program, proposal seeks to make getting rid of excess prescription drugs easier, helping better protect public health and safety across the state Tuesday, November 24, 2015 PORTLAND, ME During a roundtable discussion today focused on how the federal government can close the prescription painkillers to opioid addiction gateway, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced a new federal proposal that would help people across the country more quickly, safely, and responsibly dispose of excess prescription drugs. During the discussion, Senator King also announced his support for bipartisan legislation that would expand specialized treatment for prescription drug and heroin addiction. Opioid addiction knows no bounds. It can grip anyone at any time, and sadly, in more cases than not, it starts at home with an unsuspecting pain medication meant to help someone,Senator King said. Today, there are far too many of those painkillers sitting unused in homes across this country, and the longer they do, the more serious a risk they pose to peoples health and safety. The federal government needs to work more closely with doctors to curb the number of drugs unnecessarily provided on the front end, and then work to ensure theres an easy and responsible way to dispose of excess drugs on the back end as well. I believe a drug mail-back program holds the potential to helppeople moreeasily and safely dispose of their unwanted medications, and I will engage with people to see how the government can best accomplish that goal. The proposal announced by Senator King today would create a national program that builds on the successful Maine pilot project known as Safe Medicine Disposal for ME, which allowed people to mail back their unused prescription drugs to Maine DEA.Currently, federal regulations allow pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and other authorized collectors to serve as collection …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-continues-support-national-monument-or-park-maine-s-north-woods	Pingree continues to support National Monument or Park in Maines North Woods	2015-11-23	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today voiced her continued support for designating land in Maines North Woods donated by Elliotsville Plantation Inc. (EPI) as a National Monument or National Park. A National Monument or Park in the North Woods would bring much-needed economic development to Northern Maine as it faces major economic challenges, said Pingree. I continue to believe a monument or park would greatly benefit the state by bringing in thousands of visitors and creating hundreds of jobs for the region. And several polls also now show that most people across the state support the project." Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Bruce Poliquin today sent a letter to President Obama outlining their conditions for a national monument designation. For years, Maines entire Congressional delegation has engaged in conversations with EPI about its wish to donate this land as a park, and weve heard from many people on both sides of the issue, said Pingree. Im encouraged that the conversation has gone to the next level by outlining a possible roadmap to a monument designation.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-invites-maine-high-school-students-participate-congressional-app	Pingree invites Maine high school students to participate in Congressional App Challenge	2015-11-23	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today invited high school students in Maines 1st District to participate in the Congressional App Challenge. Students have until January 15, 2016, to develop and submit their apps, which will be judged by a panel of experts convened by the Maine Technology Institute. I applaud how Maine schools are using STEM education to prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow. This competition is an exciting opportunity to put those skills to the test while learning how to develop the smartphone apps we use every day, said Pingree. I hope students give it a shotI cant wait to see what they come up with. My thanks to the Maine Technology Institute for their help in connecting Maines tech community with the competition. Students must live or attend a high school in Maines 1st District to be eligible for the competition. They can participate as individuals or in a team of up to four. In addition to the app, students must also submit a 3-4 minute video explaining their app and how it works. The deadline for submissions is midnight on Friday, January 15, 2016. A winner for Pingrees District will be announced in February. The apps can cover any topic. They will be judged on 1) the creativity and originality of the app idea; 2) user experience and design of the ideas implementation; and 3) quality of coding and programming. Information about the competitionincluding links to coding resources and submission instructionscan be found on Pingrees website, www.pingree.house.gov/appchallenge. This is the second year Congressional offices around the country are participating in the challenge, which is coordinated by the Internet Education Foundation.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/editorials/how-cutting-food-waste-can-help-address-hunger	How cutting food waste can help address hunger	2015-11-23	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	The following piece was sent to area newspapers in November 2015. Here are two figures that dont add up: 40 percent of the food produced in the United States gets thrown out while nearly 50 million Americans cant reliably access enough food to meet their nutrition needs. As so many people go hungry, wasted food represents a serious concern and an exciting opportunity. If we diverted just 15 percent of the food that currently goes to landfills, we could cut the number of food insecure Americans in half. Food waste occurs at all levels of the supply chain. On farms, a surprising amount of food is left to rot in fields because of cosmetic blemishes or price changes that make it unprofitable to harvest and transport. Grocery stores overstock produce that isnt bought. And consumers throw out food that has passed its Best by date, but is still fine to eat. All of this adds up and its bad for the economy, environment, and families. The waste represents $162 billion of lost money annuallytranslating to about $1,560 for a family of four. The 133 billion pounds of food a year that ends up in landfills emit high amounts of methane, a gas that is 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in contributing to climate change. Much of that food is safe to eat. Im preparing to introduce comprehensive legislation in Congress to get more food to the people who need it while cutting down on waste. We can do so by making key investments in our food system, providing more incentives for donating food, and providing clearer information for consumers. Heres just some of the steps my bill will take: Reforming Best by and Use by datesMany consumers believe they have to throw out food after these dates, which are determined by manufacturers. But often, food is still safe to eat long after those dates have gone by. My legislation would make sure these dates are noted as recommendations, rather than requirements. Raising awareness about the effects of food wasteBy educating the public about the negative consequences of food waste, they can…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/collins-king-poliquin-send-letter-president-possible-national-monument	Collins, King, Poliquin Send Letter to President on Possible National Monument Designation in Maine North Woods	2015-11-23	2015	2015-11	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Bruce Poliquin have sent a letter to President Barack Obama regarding the possible designation of land in the Katahdin region as a national monument. The complete text of the letter is available below. +++ November 20, 2015 The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: We understand that you are considering using your executive power under the Antiquities Act to designate unilaterally as a national monument more than 100,000 acres of what is currently privately owned land in northern Maine and write to express our serious reservations and significant concerns about such a proposal. The private land owner, Elliotsville Plantation Inc. (EPI), has made clear that it would like to donate its land in the Katahdin Region to the federal government for the purpose of establishing a national park and national recreation area, which would require an act of Congress. The president of EPIs board, Mr. Lucas St. Clair, has recently informed us that he is in discussions with the Department of Interior to bypass Congress to seek a national monument designation. This concerns us because residents in the Katahdin Region have the most to gain or lose from federal land encroaching on their doorstep, and it is clear that deep divisions remain. While we acknowledge the right of private land owners to donate their land, we have serious concerns about the executive branch using its power to unilaterally designate a national monument in our state. Mainers have a long and proud history of private land ownership, independence, and local control, and do not take lightly any forced action by the federal government to increase its footprint in our state. Recognizing that despite these concerns, you nevertheless may use your legal authority to bypass the normal legislative process and designate a national monument in Maine, we believe that you should be aware of the history of this proposal and t…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-usda-grants-for-six-maine-communities-and-organizations	Collins, King Announce USDA Grants for Six Maine Communities and Organizations	2015-11-23	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Announce USDA Grants for Six Maine Communities and Organizations Monday, November 23, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins and Angus King announced more than $2 million in funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will provide support for distance learning and telemedicine programs throughout the state. It is important that we recognize the hard work and dedication of community leaders and health care professionals throughout our state and continue to support projects in Maine's rural areas,said Senator Collins and King in a statement.This important investmentindistance learning and telemedicine programswill improve educational opportunities and access to vital health care servicesin Maines rural communities. The USDAs Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps rural communities develop and maintain telecommunication networks in order connect to each other and to the world. Funding through this program supports the acquisition of audio-video equipment, network components and software, as well as technical assistance and instruction for using eligible equipment.? Listed below are the recipients from Maine: Home Health Visiting Nurses of Southern Maine: $129,400 Kno-Wal-Lin Home Health Care Management, Inc.:$130,000 Regional School Unit 64:$498,535 Maine Rural Health Collaborative, LLC: $431,599 Region Two School of Applied Technology (Maine Adult Education and Cooperative Extension Distance Learning Consortium): $499,378 Easton School District: $499,773 ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-dedicate-harold-alfond-ocean-and-advanced-manufacturing-laboratories-at-university-of-maine	Collins, King Dedicate Harold Alfond Ocean and Advanced Manufacturing Laboratories at University of Maine	2015-11-23	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King Dedicate Harold Alfond Ocean and Advanced Manufacturing Laboratories at University of Maine Monday, November 23, 2015 ORONO, ME Joined by federal officials, local business leaders and University of Maine leadership, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today helped officially unveil the Harold Alfond Ocean Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Laboratories. The new facility, which is part of UMaines national-recognized Advanced Structures and Composites Center, will assist businesses in developing products for the marine economy while also offering hands-on training for students. This remarkable grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation is an investment in Maine that demonstrates the pride and confidence people throughout our State have in our University, said Senator Collins. The world-class research capabilities this lab will provide in Ocean Engineering and Advanced Composites Manufacturing will help secure Maine's place as a national leader in the ocean economy of the future, help advance our industrial competitiveness in boatbuilding and renewable energy such as offshore wind, and help ensure the resiliency of our coastal communities. The future belongs to those who innovate, and today, the University of Maine has once again proven that it is on the vanguard of 21st century innovation, Senator King said. With this impressive facility and the generous support of the Harold Alfond Foundation, the University of Maine is poised to unlock incredible new advancements that will bolster our renewable energy future, strengthen our coastal communities and infrastructure, and ensure that the ocean remains a vital part of our economy. More specifically, the world-class ocean engineering facility will lead to the creation of products such as improved boat and ship hulls; renewable energy production devices from wind, wave, and tidal resources; oil and gas structures; waterfront infrastructure including more resilient bridges, piers, docks and port facilities; a…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-poliquin-send-letter-to-president-on-possible-national-monument-designation-in-maine-north-woods	Collins, King, Poliquin Send Letter to President on Possible National Monument Designation in Maine North Woods	2015-11-23	2015	2015-11	Independent	House	ME	Angus King	K000383	www.king.senate.gov	legacy	Collins, King, Poliquin Send Letter to President on Possible National Monument Designation in Maine North Woods Monday, November 23, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Bruce Poliquin have sent a letter to President Barack Obama regarding the possible designation of land in the Katahdin region as a national monument. The complete text of the letter can be read HERE and is available below. +++ November 20, 2015 The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: We understand that you are considering using your executive power under the Antiquities Act to designate unilaterally as a national monument more than 100,000 acres of what is currently privately owned land in northern Maine and write to express our serious reservations and significant concerns about such a proposal. The private land owner, Elliotsville Plantation Inc. (EPI), has made clear that it would like to donate its land in the Katahdin Region to the federal government for the purpose of establishing a national park and national recreation area, which would require an act of Congress. The president of EPIs board, Mr. Lucas St. Clair, has recently informed us that he is in discussions with the Department of Interior to bypass Congress to seek a national monument designation. This concerns us because residents in the Katahdin Region have the most to gain or lose from federal land encroaching on their doorstep, and it is clear that deep divisions remain. While we acknowledge the right of private land owners to donate their land, we have serious concerns about the executive branch using its power to unilaterally designate a national monument in our state. Mainers have a long and proud history of private land ownership, independence, and local control, and do not take lightly any forced action by the federal government to increase its footprint in our state. Recognizing that despite these concerns, you ne…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-pingree-hanna-lead-bipartisan-push-restore-federal-funding-pre	Reps. Pingree, Hanna lead bipartisan push to restore federal funding for pre-school programs	2015-11-20	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Earlier this year, Congresswoman Pingree visited a preschool in Old Orchard Beach that has been able to expand its programming and enrollment with support from a federal program she is fighting to restore funding for. In a bipartisan letter, Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Richard Hanna (R-New York), and 61 of their Republican and Democratic colleagues urged the leadership of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education to restore funding for the federal Preschool Development Grant program. Funding has been eliminated in recent drafts of the House and Senate appropriations bills. Early childhood education benefits children for years afterward, but its just too expensive for many families, said Pingree. This grant program is critical in helping states and local communities offer high-quality preschool education to more students who may not be able to access it otherwise. Ive had the chance to visit classrooms that are supported by this program and parents rave that its made a big difference for their children. I hope funding will be restored so even more students can benefit. I fully support restoring this critical funding for our youngest learners, Hanna said. Early childhood education helps make our nation become more competitive and ensures that each child has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. One in four children starts their life in poverty. Through education, we can ensure their lives do not end in poverty. Preschool Development Grants provide funds to build and expand public preschool programs in high-need communitiesit extends enrollment to children in families whose incomes are too high for Head Start but would not likely be able to afford private preschools. The grants are matched with funds on the state and local level. Currently, 18 states are using the grants to give 33,000 four-year-olds access to programs that make use of evidence-based curricula and practices. An additional 60,000 children are expected to …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lawmakers-blast-fda-approval-genetically-engineered-salmon-and-decision	Lawmakers blast FDA approval of genetically-engineered salmon and decision not to require labeling	2015-11-19	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, DCCongresswoman Chellie Pingree joined other lawmakers today in blasting announcements from the FDA approving weak GMO-labeling measures that deny consumers the right to know how the food they purchase for their families is produced. The FDA also approved the application for AquAdvantage salmon, the first genetically-engineered animal sanctioned for human consumption. The agency also determined that manufacturers of AquAdvantage salmon will not be required to label the salmon as genetically-engineered. Despite polling demonstrating that 90 percent of Americans support requiring mandatory GMO labeling, the FDA moved forward with a decision to finalize the existing policy which does not adequately inform consumers of the content of the food they buy. The policy allows manufacturers to voluntarily label their products as containing ingredients from genetically-engineered sources rather than requiring companies to disclose genetically-engineered ingredients. The group of lawmakers, which includes Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-02), Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-5), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), are ardent supporters of GMO labeling and providing consumers the right to know what's in their food. The legislators are all co-sponsors of Congressman DeFazio's bill, the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act, legislation that would require mandatory labeling of genetically-engineered foods, including genetically-engineered salmon. "I'm deeply disturbed to see FDA take this unprecedented action approving genetically modified salmon, which could open the floodgates to allowing other GMO animals in the marketplace. And as if genetically engineering animals wasn't bad enough, consumers will be denied the right to know whether or not their salmon is GMO. At a time when consumers are demanding to know more about what's in their food, FDA is caving to industry pressure and taking a dramatic and dangerous step…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/voting-no-bill-blocking-syrian-and-iraqi-refugees	Voting no on bill blocking Syrian and Iraqi refugees	2015-11-19	2015	2015-11	Democrat	House	ME	Chellie Pingree	P000597	pingree.house.gov	legacy	Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement today after voting against legislation to halt the admission of Syrian and Iraqi refugees into the U.S. America has long led the world in providing refuge for people fleeing persecution and violence. Now is not the time to end that legacy. We should not shut the door on Syrian and Iraqi refugees who are fleeing from ISIS's brutality and terrorismthe same kind of acts that we mourn in France. To do so only emboldens ISIS and the hate it represents. As our country fights terrorism, it is absolutely critical that we take all steps necessary to protect the safety of the American people at home. That is why the United States has developed the lengthiest and most robust process in the world to screen the security risk of refugeesa process that can take up to three years, involves multiple checks and the coordination of several agencies. I support steps to strengthen this processsuch as devoting more resources to performing these checksbut this legislation does not do that, nor does it make our country safer. Its intention is to shut down refugee resettlement through years of delay and redundancy. In the meantime, the children, widows and other victims of terrorism who are looking to the United States for refugeas millions have before themwill continue to needlessly suffer.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/poliquin-declares-victory-itc-decision	Poliquin Declares Victory in ITC Decision	2015-11-19	2015	2015-11	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON In an issue first raised by Maine's Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, the International Trade Commission (ITC), in a 5-0 vote, determined that unfair Canadian subsidies on supercalendared paper were unlawfully hurting Maine businesses, like Madison Paper. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement: "This decision from the ITC investigation is a victory for Madison Paper and a victory for Maine workers," said Congressman Poliquin. This decision will preserve more than 200 jobs at Madison Paper and keep the facility operating and producing their quality product. "For months, I have made it a top priority to investigate these unfair trade practices and job-killing subsidies from Canada that have been detrimental to Maine's businesses. It is unacceptable that so many Maine families have lost work because of these illegal trade practices. "The ITC's unanimous decision in this investigation is a critical step forward in growing jobs in Maine, but it's certainly not the end of the fight. As Maine's Second District Congressman, I will continue to fight for Maine jobs and fight to end unfair trade policies." As a result of the ITC's determination, the Department of Commerce will finalize a countervailing duty order on imports of supercalendared paper from Canada.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/we-must-protect-americans	We Must Protect Americans	2015-11-19	2015	2015-11	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Today, Maines Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, released the following statement after voting against the continuation of President Obamas Syrian refugee resettlement program without putting critical measures in place to protect Americans: Our national security should be a top priority for Congress, said Congressman Poliquin. With the serious threats that America faces today, it is vital that we push to stop this Administrations dangerous refugee resettlement program until we can ensure, for certain, that exhaustive measures are in place to keep our families and communities safe. Im proud to join my colleagues in the House, Republicans and Democrats, in supporting this crucial, commonsense legislation to protect Americans. As Maines Second District Congressman, I am committed to ensuring that American families and communities are safe and that our national security is a priority for our government.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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Press releases

996 rows where state = "ME" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending

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