WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin announced the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to purchase an additional 3.8 million pounds of Maine wild blueberries to distribute to food banks and other charitable organizations across the country. Along with an earlier purchase made this year at the Delegation’s request, that would bring the total to 11.7 million pounds, amounting to an estimated $12.75 million for Maine blueberry growers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins announced that the Senate last night unanimously passed a resolution designating September 25, 2016 as “National Lobster Day.” The Maine Senators led the “National Lobster Day” resolution, which was introduced on June 28, to recognize the economic and cultural importance of the lobster industry in Maine and around the country.

WASHINGTON, D.C – U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins and Representatives Bruce Poliquin and Chellie Pingree received letters today from the U.S. Department of Commerce announcing that it has agreed to establish an integrated, multi-agency Economic Development Assessment Team, known as an EDAT, to assist Maine’s forest products industry in the wake of several mill closures.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin said today that a scientific committee of the European Union is considering arguments presented by U.S. and Canadian researchers in response to a Swedish request to ban the import of American lobsters into the EU.

Federal regulations can impose unexpected and costly requirements on small businesses, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.  A prime example is a new U.S. Department of Labor rule on overtime pay that could harm the very workers it intends to help, cause small businesses to curb hiring, and force universities and colleges to either raise tuition or cut programs.

The new rule, scheduled to take effect this December, will double the current annual salary threshold from $23,660 to $47,476 for mandatory overtime.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will award a total of $380,170 in federal funding to the Maine Forest Service in support of Maine’s forest products industry. The Maine Forest Service will receive two Wood Innovation Grants through the USDA: $130,170 to establish a Maine State Wood Energy Assistance Team, and $250,000 for a program titled, “Strengthening and Expanding Maine Wood Markets.”

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced today that their crews have located the missing voyage data recorder from the commercial ship, El Faro. NTSB will now attempt to retrieve the device.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement today in response to the announcement that Madison Paper Industries mill in Madison will close by the end of May:

“This is devastating news for Madison’s dedicated employees and their families as well as for the Town of Madison and the entire state of Maine. We stand ready to assist any and all affected workers in whatever ways we can,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, and Congressmen Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin joined a group of 27 other members of Congress on a letter urging U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf to exercise his legal authority to investigate and take action against products that falsely claim to contain maple syrup.

U.S. Senator Susan Collins will attend the 41^st Annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum today at the Samoset Resort.  The three-day event is expected to draw approximately 3,000 people, including fisherman, scientists, managers, and NOAA officials.

U.S. Senator Susan Collins will participate in a forum regarding small businesses, aging, and retirement security, among other topics tomorrow at Husson University.  The forum will be hosted by the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business and is part of the popular series, “A Conversation at the Dyke Center.”  Dr. Nancy Forster-Holt, the Director of the Dyke Center, will be Senator Collins’ conversation partner.

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement today in response to the U.S.

When I ask employers in Maine what Washington needs to do to help them add jobs, they tell me this: reduce the cost and complexity of the federal regulations imposed on them.  And this is not just a concern voiced by Maine businesses.  Earlier this year, a poll of small business owners across the country found that the vast majority aren’t hiring new workers right now, and more than six in ten pointed to government regulations as the reason why.