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U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that $922,876 will be distributed from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) directly to Maine to support conservation and recreation projects in our local communities. The funds, which are generated out of a portion of the lease revenue from offshore oil and gas development, support state-identified and community-supported projects that create jobs, contribute to local economies, and grow outdoor recreational opportunities in virtually every county across the country.

Committee approves Pingree requests for $75 million in spending for PNSY and directs VA to improve health care and homeless services for vets Congresswoman Chellie Pingree used her position on the powerful House Appropriations Committee to get numerous provisions into a defense bill that will help veterans, including those seeking care in the VA, homeless female veterans, veterans who need service dogs and the families of veterans. Pingree also was able to insure that the bill contains $75 million in funding to maintain and modernize the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

U.S. Congressman Bruce Poliquin toured HBI’s Carpentry Program at the Penobscot Job Corps Center (PJCC) in Maine. As part of the National Association of Home Builders “Bringing Housing Home” effort, Congressman Poliquin visited the facility in Bangor, where he has worked to protect and create jobs, and support educational opportunities for youth. NAHB and HBI are using this opportunity to raise awareness about housing issues.

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced a $3.2 million investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the work of the Anson and Madison Water District as it replaces a 12 mile long water transmission main in Somerset County. The investment is comprised of a $800,000 grant and a $2.4 million loan

The Portland Water District’s Industrial Pretreatment Program was recently selected by EPA for a “2015 Regional Industrial Pretreatment Program Excellence Award.”

As demand for commercial real estate increases, how can property owners, brokers and developers meet the evolving expectations of modern businesses?  What are the emerging trends in real estate, design and marketing as they pertain to today's mobile workforce?  Specifically, what can property owners do to attract new tenants and buyers as well as stabilize and future-proof their properties

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) yesterday participated in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Field Hearing in Bethel, Alaska where he advocated for the development and deployment of innovative renewable energy technologies to help power rural and remote communities in Maine and across the country.

Maine’s Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, has introduced the Improving Rural Access to Power Act, a bipartisan bill to support electricity infrastructure development in Maine’s rural areas and communities. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement:

The reforms included in the “Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act” update and improve outdated rules and regulations in order to give state and local housing agencies and private owners more flexibility to meet key program objectives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Committee unanimously approved legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues which would improve how the federal government manages its buildings and other property across the country. The Federal Property Management Reform Act of 2016, introduced by Senators King, Tom Carper (D-Del.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.), would establish a framework for federal agencies to better manage existing space in a more cost-effective manner and help facilitate the disposal of unneeded federal property. The Federal Property Management Reform Act of 2016 will now move to the Senate floor for consideration by the full Senate. “Maine taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for government property that goes unused, and the Committee’s unanimous approval of our bill is a solid step toward ensuring they won’t,” Senator King said. “With far too many unused or underutilized federal buildings draining vital resources, our common-sense legislation will make sure that the federal government manages its properties more efficiently and that taxpayer dollars are spent more effectively. I applaud the Committee for its vote today and look forward to advancing this legislation in the Senate.” Specifically, the Federal Property Management Reform Act would require federal agencies to maintain an up-to-date inventory of the property it owns, incentivize agencies to dispose of excess property by allowing them to retain and reinvest sale proceeds, and establish a Federal Property Council to develop uniform guidance for agency property managers to follow and share best practices in property management among agencies. The federal government’s real property holdings are vast and diverse, incorporating hundreds of thousands of buildings and permanent structures across the county, and making it the largest property owner in the United States. In fact, every year since January 2003, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has placed real property management on its list of “high risk” government activities, citing long-standing problems with excess and underutilized property; deteriorating and aging facilities; unreliable property data; and a heavy reliance on costly leasing instead of ownership to meet new needs. The Federal Property Management Reform Act of 2016 passed by the committee today would: Require agencies to maintain a current inventory of real property, including information about the cost and use of their facilities and how these properties fit into the agencies broader management plan. Codify and expand the duties of the Federal Real Property Council to ensure this body develops guidance and ensures the implementation of strategies for better managing federal property; Incentivize agencies to dispose of excess property through retention of the net proceeds of sale as long as those proceeds are used to further disposal activities, investments in federal buildings personnel or for deficit reduction; Codify the broader management framework of the Administration’s National Strategy for the Efficient Use of Real Property, ensuring these actions become a permanent framework for agency property management; Build off efforts previously championed by Sen. Carper in the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010. Senator King has previously partnered with Senator Carper to improve federal property management. Last year, the Senators introduced and ushered into law an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that authorized a pilot program to encourage more efficient federal property management by streamlining the process by which the U.S. Army disposes of unused or underutilized properties.

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) has joined with a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce legislation that would improve how the federal government manages its buildings and other property across the country. The Federal Property Management Reform Act of 2016, introduced by Senators King, Tom Carper (D-Del.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.) last night, would establish a framework for federal agencies to better manage existing space in a more cost-effective manner and help facilitate the disposal of unneeded federal property.

Maine’s Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, voted to stop President Obama’s abuse of his executive power through the Justice Department’s “Operation Choke Point.”

At a recent conference, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) presented awards to five individuals, each selected for their contributions to MEREDA and, more generally, to the health of the Maine real estate market over the last several years.

Governor Paul R. LePage and MaineHousing Director John Gallagher today announce that the housing authority is offering veterans and active duty military low home loan rates starting at 3.25% (4.217% APR, 0 points).

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.