Olympia Snowe

November 17, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) -The U.S. Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations spending bill which includes more than $9 million for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

This funding, which was supported by Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), and Susan Collins (R-ME), includes $7.1 million to be used for security improvements at Gate 2.    » read more »

Feinstein and Snowe introduce measure to establish federal oversight for new carbon markets; Measure designed to prevent Enron-like fraud and manipulation

July 7, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) have introduced legislation to establish federal oversight for markets that trade carbon allowances, which are permits to emit one metric ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The bill also establishes a framework to regulate carbon derivatives.    » read more »

Boxer and Snowe craft legislation on NTSB recommendations, greater FAA oversight for flight safety following Buffalo commuter plane crash

June 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) today announced the One Level of Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to restore confidence in America’s commercial aviation industry by addressing a number of the issues that came to light during the recent National Transportation Safety Board hearings on the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 outside of Buffalo, New York.    » read more »

Snowe Welcomes Domtar Decision to Restart Pulp Production at Woodland Facility in Baileyville

June 10, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today released the following statement in response to the announcement from Domtar that the company will reopen its Woodland Facility in Baileyville and begin pulp production on June 22, 2009:    » read more »

Snowe Reiterates Call for Comprehensive Health Care Reform to Increase Access to Quality and Affordable Coverage

June 9, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, reiterated her call for comprehensive health care reform to ensure universal access to quality and affordable health care in America. In a meeting with Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Office of Health Reform, Senator Snowe said it is vital for Congress to enact legislation this year to effectively overhaul the health care system and produce real reforms and savings.    » read more »

Snowe Introduces Critical Legislation To Increase Small Business Exporting

June 9, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, introduced legislation this week to help small businesses expand into foreign markets. The Small Business Export Opportunity Act of 2009 (S. 1208) would strengthen and improve export financing programs within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to better assist American entrepreneurs expand their businesses overseas, compete in international markets and create new, good-paying jobs.    » read more »

June 9, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- In a Senate Commerce Committee hearing examining the role of oceans in our economic future, U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today extolled the present and future contributions of oceans to our national economy, from renewable energy to the fishing industry. Currently, the world’s oceans face numerous threats to their productivity and viability, including the looming threat of climate change.    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmospheres, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today announced her support for the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2009, bipartisan legislation to authorize funding levels for fiscal years 2010 and 2011.    » read more »

“Mobile Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2009” would grant a five-year moratorium on new telecom taxes

June 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Working to ensure American telecommunications networks remain on the cutting edge of wireless technology and keep pace with foreign competitors, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined today with Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) in introducing the Mobile Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2009 to enact a five-year moratorium on new or increased taxes on wireless telecommunications infrastructure and services.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- In response to recent news reports of General Motors following Chrysler into bankruptcy, Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today called on the heads of the American automobile companies to ease the transition for the nearly 2,000 small dealerships across the country who face imminent closure.

In a Senate Commerce Committee hearing examining the domestic auto dealership closures today, Senator Snowe highlighted the burden on the national network of dealerships to quickly liquidate inventory in order to receive assistance and called on the automakers to provide more clarity to the closure process.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins (R-Maine) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $3,736,695 to Maine for airport projects in the state.

"These Department of Transportation funds will address major infrastructure and safety issues at airports of all sizes in Maine," Senators Snowe and Collins said. "Maintaining runway safety and improving airport services will keep Mainers connected and safe."

The funds are distributed as follows:

§ $130,000 to the Town of Jackman- This grant will support the rehabilitation of an airport beacon and a phase of obstruction removal at Newton Field Airport in Jackman.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement today on the Obama Administration’s Cybersecurity Policy Review:

"We applaud President Obama for highlighting the extraordinarily serious issue of cybersecurity. No other President in American history has elevated this issue to that level and we thank him for his leadership.    » read more »

May 28, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today praised the Small Business Administration (SBA) for establishing a pilot program that will allow automobile, boat, RV and other dealerships to access SBA-backed loans starting July 1, 2009. Called the Dealer Floor Plan (DFP) program, the initiative will afford dealerships who sell title-able items the ability to borrow against their inventory and repay the debt as they sell their products.    » read more »

Highlight The Cybersecurity Act Of 2009

May 27, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation issued the following statement today in anticipation of the Obama Administration’s 60-day Cybersecurity Policy Review Report:

"As members of both the Senate Commerce Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee, we meet at the legislative crossroads between our national security and economic security. We believe the time for our government and the private sector to act in a coordinated fashion to combat cyber terror was yesterday.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- In response to President Obama’s announcement to nominate U.S. appeals court Judge Sonia Sotomayor of New York to replace retiring justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) issued the following statement today:

"Indisputably, this is an historic selection, as Sonia Sotomayor is just the third woman to be nominated to The Court and the first Hispanic American. I commend President Obama for nominating a well-qualified woman, as I urged him to do during a one-on-one meeting on a variety of issues in the Oval Office earlier this month.    » read more »