Friday - August 22, 2025
*Maine Editor Tipoffs Newsletter for Thursday February 06, 2025 ( 19 items )  

Bennet, Hickenlooper Demand Answers on Trump Administration's Efforts to Dismantle USAID
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: * * * Bennet, Hickenlooper Demand Answers on Trump Administration's Efforts to Dismantle USAID Washington D.C. - Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and 35 of their Senate colleagues to demand answers from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)'s attempt to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Internationa  more

Commerce Committee Advances Schatz-Cruz Bipartisan Legislation To Keep Kids Safe, Healthy, Off Social Media
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * Commerce Committee Advances Schatz-Cruz Bipartisan Legislation To Keep Kids Safe, Healthy, Off Social Media Bill Now Moves To Full Senate For Consideration WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved the Kids Off Social Media Act. Authored by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Ted Cruz (R-Texas),   more

Feenstra Leads Legislation to Help Iowa Small Businesses Provide Paid Family and Medical Leave to Employees
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Feenstra Leads Legislation to Help Iowa Small Businesses Provide Paid Family and Medical Leave to Employees WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) introduced the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act to help small businesses offer paid family and medical leave (PFML) to their employees. This legislation specifically extends and reforms the 45S tax c  more

Fischer, King Reintroduce Legislation to Help America's Working Families
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * Fischer, King Reintroduce Legislation to Help America's Working Families Today, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Angus King (I-Maine) reintroduced the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will make the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Employer Tax Credit permanent, helping companies of all sizes offer PFML plans to the  more

Heinrich Raises Alarm Over Trump-Caused Chaos at Critical National Security Agencies
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich Raises Alarm Over Trump-Caused Chaos at Critical National Security Agencies WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and 36 Senate colleagues sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing their deep concern regarding the growing chaos and dysfunction at the U.S. Department of State and the Trump Administration's illegal attempt to destroy the U.S. Agency for Inte  more

In Jetport Press Conference, Pingree Rails Against Unelected Billionaire Elon Musk, Illegal Actions by Trump Admin
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * In Jetport Press Conference, Pingree Rails Against Unelected Billionaire Elon Musk, Illegal Actions by Trump Admin oday during a press conference at the Portland International Jetport, Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree spoke out against the litany of illegal and unconstitutional actions President Trump, his Administration, and Elon Musk have taken since Inauguration Day. Pingree shared that her off  more

Kaine & Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help More Americans Access High-Quality Job Training, Get Good-Paying Jobs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Kaine & Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help More Americans Access High-Quality Job Training, Get Good-Paying Jobs WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus and a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Susan Collins (R-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Roger Marshall (R-KS)   more

King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Financial Security for Military Families
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Financial Security for Military Families WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Armed Services Committees, is introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve financial security for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. The Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act would ensure life  more

Maine A.G. Aaron M. Frey and 14 Attorneys General Issue Joint Statement on Protecting Access to Gender-Affirming Care
AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 5 -- Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey issued the following joint statement on Feb. 5, 2025: * * * Attorney General Aaron M. Frey and 14 attorneys general issued a joint statement today to reaffirm their commitment to protecting access to gender-affirming care in the face of the Trump Administration's recent Executive Order. The coalition released the following statement: "As state attorneys general, we stand firmly in support of healthcare policies that respect the dign  more

Maine PUC Denies Summit Ridge Energy's Continuous Construction Claim, Impacting Solar Project's Net Energy Billing Rate
AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 6 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has ruled that Summit Ridge Energy, LLC (Summit Ridge) failed to demonstrate continuous on-site construction for its 4.975 MW solar project in Chester, Maine. This decision impacts the Net Energy Billing (NEB) rate that subscribers to the Chester A project will receive. Maine law allows solar projects that began construction before September 1, 2022, and maintained continuous progress toward completion, to qualify for a highe  more

Murphy, Blumenthal, 35 Colleagues Raise Alarm Over Trump Administration Chaos At Critical National Security Agencies
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Murphy, Blumenthal, 35 Colleagues Raise Alarm Over Trump Administration Chaos At Critical National Security Agencies WASHINGTON- U.S Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined 35 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing their deep concern regarding the gro  more

On Senate Floor, Shaheen Condemns Proposed Trump Tariffs that Would Increase Costs on Granite Staters
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release: * * * On Senate Floor, Shaheen Condemns Proposed Trump Tariffs that Would Increase Costs on Granite Staters (Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) delivered remarks on the Senate floor condemning President Trump's proposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada, New Hampshire's largest trading partner, that could cause prices on everything from gas to cars to groceries to skyrocket, hurting Gra  more

Ranking Member Pingree: Imminent Purge of EPA Employees Will Undermine Agency's Obligations to Protect Human Health and the Environment
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 5, 2025: * * * More than 1,000 EPA employees were warned they could be fired at any time without cause, according to reporting from The New York Times * * * Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, is calling on the newly-confirmed Administ  more

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Bill to Help Small Businesses Offer Paid Family and Medical Leave
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washington, issued the following news release on Feb. 5, 2025: Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), along with Reps. Randy Feenstra (IA-04) and Stephanie Bice (OK-05), introduced the bipartisan Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act to help small businesses offer paid family and medical leave (PFML) to their employees. This legislation specifically extends and reforms the 45S tax credit - which was a   more

Sen. Moran, Rev. Warnock Introduce Legislation to Protect Surviving Spouses Military Benefits
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news on Feb. 5, 2025: Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) - chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs - and Sen. Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) introduced legislation to allow surviving spouses of fallen servicemembers to retain certain survivor benefits if they remarry. Under current law, most benefits from the Department of Defense and the Department   more

Senate Commerce Committee Advances Cruz-Led Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Kids' Online Safety, Preserve AM Radio, Help Traveling Families, Combat Illegal Fishing, and Modernize Weather Forecasts
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 5, 2025: U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statements after the Committee approved multiple bills with strong bipartisan support: Kids Off Social Media Act, AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, TORNADO Act, and the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Sc  more

Senators Collins, Bipartisan Group Introduce Legislation to Expand Rural Access to Maternal Health Care
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Senators Collins, Bipartisan Group Introduce Legislation to Expand Rural Access to Maternal Health Care Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced legislation to support rural health care facilities in providing urgent obstetric care. Their bipartisan Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act would help prepare rural hospitals and   more

U.S. Senator Katie Britt's Legislation to Protect Kids on Social Media Passes Senate Commerce Committee
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Senator Katie Britt's Legislation to Protect Kids on Social Media Passes Senate Commerce Committee This is an important step forward to safeguard the next generation' WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt's (R-Ala.) bipartisan legislation to protect kids from the harmful impacts of social media usage today passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of  more

Young, Warner Lead Senate Resolution Honoring the 80th Anniversary of Iwo Jima
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, issued the following news release: * * * Young, Warner Lead Senate Resolution Honoring the 80th Anniversary of Iwo Jima WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced a resolution recognizing the 80 th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, which began on February 19, 1945, and lasted until March 26, 1945. "For myself, every Marine, and many Americans, Iwo Jima is symbol of duty and sacrifice," said   more