{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"ME\" and year = 2026 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-meets-with-the-2026-maine-teacher-of-the-year", "Senator Collins Meets with the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE for a full-resolution photo.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins met with Julia Edwards, the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year. Julia is a choral music teacher at Poland Regional High School and Bruce Whittier Middle School. She was previously named the 2025 Androscoggin County Teacher of the Year.\n\n\u201cJulia is an outstanding educator whose passion for music and commitment to her students have made a lasting and positive impact on the Poland community,\u201d said Senator Susan Collins. \u201cTeachers like Julia inspire students to discover their talents and develop a lifelong love of learning, and I appreciated the opportunity to congratulate her on receiving this prestigious award and to thank her for her important work.\u201d\n\nIn addition to her teaching, Julia has served as President of the Maine American Choral Directors Association, coordinated district-wide professional development conferences, presented at state and national conferences, and served as a guest clinician for district and state music festivals. She also plays the oboe and English horn with the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra and Casco Bay Wind Symphony. Julia earned her degree in music education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/signed-into-law-kay-hagan-tick-reauthorization-act-authored-by-senator-collins", "SIGNED INTO LAW: Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act Authored by Senator Collins", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act, which she introduced with Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), with Senator Angus King joining them as an original cosponsor, has been signed into law.\n\nCases of Lyme disease have reached a new record level in Maine every year since 2022, with more than 4,200 cases reported statewide last year.\n\nThe Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act confronts this growing public health threat by reauthorizing federal initiatives and programs to combat tick-borne diseases first established through the original Kay Hagan Tick Act, which Senators Collins and Smith led to passage in 2019. The Senators named their bill in honor of the late Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC), who passed away in October of 2019 due to complications from the tick-borne disease known as the Powassan virus.\n\n\u201cWith Maine continuing to experience record levels of Lyme disease, we must continue working to address the growing threat posed by tick-borne diseases,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThe Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act builds on the progress we have made in combatting these diseases since the original law was enacted and ensures this important work can continue across the country. I am grateful to Senator Smith for her partnership in this effort and to our colleagues in both chambers for working with us to move this important legislation across the finish line, and I am pleased to see it now signed into law.\u201d\n\nUsing a three-pronged approach, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act will:\n\nReauthorize Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases through Fiscal Year 2030. These Centers have led the scientific response against tick-borne diseases, which now make up approximately 75 percent of vector-borne diseases in the U.S. There are four centers: at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of California\u2013Davis, the University of Florida, and the University of Wisconsin\u2013Madison. The authorization for the program under the Kay Hagan Tick Act expired at the end of Fiscal Year 2025.\n\nReauthorize CDC Grants to State Health Departments. These grants help departments improve data collection and analysis, support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise awareness of vector-borne diseases. Reauthorizing these awards will help states continue building and maintaining a public health infrastructure for Lyme and other vector-borne diseases and amplify their initiatives through public-private partnerships. Since 2019, this funding has helped increase the number of health departments reporting tick-surveillance data from 6 to 44.\n\nRequire the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue implementing and updating, as appropriate, its National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People. This strategy has been integral in expanding research into tick-borne diseases, improving testing and diagnostics, and coordinating efforts across the federal government.\n\nSince the original Kay Hagan Tick Act was signed into law in 2019, resources provided through the law have supported efforts to combat tick-borne diseases in Maine, including research at the MaineHealth Institute for Research connected to a clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine. The law has also provided funding for Maine CDC\u2019s efforts to track and respond to vector-borne diseases.\n\nSenator Collins has also secured more than $6 million through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee for the University of Maine Tick Lab, which conducts tick surveillance and research and allows Mainers to submit ticks for pathogen testing.\n\nThe Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act has been endorsed by the University of Maine Tick Lab, the Center for Lyme Action, and the Entomological Society of America.\n\n\u201cThe growing burden of ticks and tick-borne diseases requires attention at the federal, state, and local levels. Reauthorization of the Kay Hagan TICK Act helps maintain a national strategy for addressing these diseases and supporting the science, coordination, and public health capacity needed to respond effectively. We appreciate Senator Collins\u2019 efforts to keep this issue before Congress and to recognize its importance to Maine and other heavily affected states,\u201d said Griffin Dill, Director of the University of Maine Tick Lab.\n\n\u201cThe reauthorization of the Kay Hagan Tick Act is a landmark victory for the millions of Americans impacted by tick-borne diseases and a testament to what is possible when policymakers, patients, families, and advocates come together to address a growing public health crisis. We are deeply grateful to the bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate who championed this legislation and helped bring it across the finish line, and to the thousands of advocates across the country whose voices, persistence, and grassroots action made this historic achievement possible. We look forward to building on this momentum to deliver the research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatments that patients and families so urgently need. This legislation is a critical investment in our nation\u2019s public health infrastructure and an important step toward finally turning the tide against these complex and devastating diseases,\u201d said Meghan Bradshaw, MPH, Executive Director of the Center for Lyme Action.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Entomological Society of America, we are extremely appreciative of the support shown in the House and Senate for the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act and we thank Senator Collins for her continued leadership on this issue. Reauthorizing the CDC Regional Centers of Excellence (COE) in Vector-Borne Diseases and reinforcing support for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grant program will help protect communities across the country from the growing challenges posed by diseases spread by ticks and mosquitoes through research, surveillance, management, and outreach,\u201d said Dr. Melissa Siebert, the 2026 President of the Entomological Society of America.\n\nThe complete text of the law can be read here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-welcome-bangors-selection-as-one-of-four-potential-locations-for-new-kc-46-squadron", "Senators Collins, King Welcome Bangor\u2019s Selection as One of Four Potential Locations for New KC-46 Squadron", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today welcomed the Air Force\u2019s decision to advance the Bangor Air National Guard Base as a potential location for a new KC-46A air refueling squadron. The two Senators received news moments ago that Bangor is one of four finalists from an initial field of 14 Air National Guard bases.\n\nSenators Collins and King were briefed on the decision by Mr. Michael Saunders, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment and Major General Bryony Terrell, Deputy Director of the Air National Guard.\n\n\u201cThis announcement from the Air Force is an important step toward equipping the MAINEiacs with the advanced aircraft they need to carry out their critical mission,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cBangor\u2019s strategic location and the proven excellence of the 101st Air Refueling Wing make a compelling case for bringing the KC-46 to Maine. We will continue to press for Bangor\u2019s selection as the selection process continues.\u201d\n\nIf selected, Bangor would gain significantly more advanced refueling capabilities as the KC-46A would replace, over time, the aging KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 101st Air Refueling Wing. The first aircraft would be expected to arrive in 2030.\n\nThe remaining finalists will undergo further site analysis and evaluation. A decision for a preferred location on KC-46A Main Operating Base 9 is expected in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2027.\n\nSenator Collins secured $50 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 full-year continuing resolution for a universal fuel cell hangar in Bangor capable of accommodating the KC-46A, strengthening the base\u2019s readiness for future aircraft. She also secured nearly $9.6 million in Fiscal Year 2024 military construction funding for Maine National Guard projects in Bangor and Saco. Additionally, of the more than $428.6 million in Congressionally Directed Spending Senator Collins secured for Maine in Fiscal Year 2026 funding bills, $2.5 million will support a new aircraft maintenance and ground equipment facility at Bangor Air National Guard Base.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Senator King has been a steadfast supporter of the armed forces, including Bangor\u2019s 101st Air Refueling Wing. In a SASC hearing, he touted the \u201cMAINEiacs\u201d and reminded then-Chief of Staff of the Air Force of the strategic importance of Bangor Air National Guard. He secured key provisions in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to help protect the Maine Air National Guard \u2014 guaranteeing that as the Air Force modernizes the tanker fleet, it replaces older aircraft on a one-for-one basis \u2014 and ensure support for all branches of the military to make sure that servicemembers can continue providing best in class services to protect the \u2018territory of the brave.\u2019\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-urge-administration-to-keep-safeguards-in-place-for-displaced-ukrainians", "King, Colleagues Urge Administration to Keep Safeguards in Place for Displaced Ukrainians", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and several of his Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle are requesting that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and State Department extend humanitarian protections for Ukrainian citizens temporarily staying in the United States due to the unprovoked Russian invasion of their home country. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the senators urge the administration to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation an additional 18 months beyond the current October 19, 2026, termination date, ensuring current TPS beneficiaries are not forced to return to an active combat zone.\n\nThe senators wrote, \u201cThe war in Ukraine\u2014the largest conventional military action in Europe since World War II\u2014is ongoing, as are the same extraordinary and temporary conditions that warrant the continued protection of Ukrainian nationals currently residing in the United States. International observers report a trend of steadily increasing civilian casualties from year to year, with approximately 17,000 civilian deaths and more than 50,000 civilian injuries since the outbreak of the war in 2022. These casualties, coupled with significant damage to civilian infrastructure, constrained access to health care and substantial population displacement have created a profound crisis, with approximately 10.8 million Ukrainians in need of humanitarian assistance. The facts on the ground paint a clear picture: sending Ukrainians back now would risk returning them to life threatening conditions.\u201d\n\n\u201cProtecting the approximately 101,000 Ukrainian TPS holders currently living in the United States is a humanitarian imperative, but also a sound economic decision,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cUkrainian TPS holders have contributed approximately $2.6 billion to our economy each year and have provided approximately $716 million in taxes annually. In States like Illinois, thousands of Ukrainian TPS holders make our communities stronger not only through their rich cultural contributions, but also through their participation in critical sectors, including transportation, health care and construction. Terminating TPS for this population risks disrupting these industries, increasing costs for American consumers by forcing thousands of experienced workers out of their jobs.\u201d\n\nThe senators concluded, \u201cTo ensure that eligible Ukrainian nationals currently in the United States can continue living and working safely while conditions in their home country remain perilous, we urge you issue an extension and redesignation of TPS for Ukraine.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senator King, the letter is signed by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeffery Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Tina Smith (D-MN).\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. He has consistently championed legal protections for individuals fleeing global conflict. Immediately following Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, he released a statement condemning Vladimir Putin and advocated for the initial designation of TPS ensuring arriving individuals from Ukraine had immediate legal authorization to remain and work in the U.S. Over the last 4 years, Senator King has been a vocal lawmaker supporting Ukraine\u2019s defense, including unwavering support for bipartisan aid legislation and loyalty to the democratic values of Ukraine.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Mullin and Secretary Rubio:\n\nWe strongly urge you to issue an 18-month extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine prior to the impending October 19, 2026, termination date. Ukraine is currently in the fifth year of a large-scale war with Russia, which has led to ongoing civilian casualties, significant damage to critical infrastructure and the displacement of broad swaths of the population. An extension of TPS for Ukraine would protect current TPS beneficiaries from being forced to return to an active war zone, while a redesignation would expand those protections to the population of Ukrainian nationals who arrived after October 20, 2023.\n\nUkraine was initially designated for TPS on April 19, 2022, on the basis of ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions caused by Russia\u2019s military actions within the country. In its designation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the U.S. Department of State, cited regular artillery attacks and airstrikes by Russia\u2019s military forces, serious human rights abuses and the widespread destruction of critical infrastructure. Subsequent reviews of in-country conditions found that the situation in the country had not sufficiently improved; accordingly, TPS for Ukraine was extended and redesignated through April 19, 2025, and extended once more beginning on April 20, 2025.\n\nThe war in Ukraine\u2014the largest conventional military action in Europe since World War II\u2014is ongoing, as are the same extraordinary and temporary conditions that warrant the continued protection of Ukrainian nationals currently residing in the United States. International observers report a trend of steadily increasing civilian casualties from year to year, with approximately 17,000 civilian deaths and more than 50,000 civilian injuries since the outbreak of the war in 2022. These casualties, coupled with significant damage to civilian infrastructure, constrained access to health care and substantial population displacement have created a profound crisis, with approximately 10.8 million Ukrainians in need of humanitarian assistance. The facts on the ground paint a clear picture: sending Ukrainians back now would risk returning them to life threatening conditions.\n\nProtecting the approximately 101,000 Ukrainian TPS holders currently living in the United States is a humanitarian imperative, but also a sound economic decision. Thanks to the work authorization granted by their TPS status, Ukrainian TPS holders have contributed approximately $2.6 billion to our economy each year and have provided approximately $716 million in taxes annually. In States like Illinois, thousands of Ukrainian TPS holders make our communities stronger not only through their rich cultural contributions, but also through their participation in critical sectors, including transportation, health care and construction. Terminating TPS for this population risks disrupting these industries, increasing costs for American consumers by forcing thousands of experienced workers out of their jobs.\n\nCurrent conditions in Ukraine clearly merit the continuation of TPS status. The ongoing war has caused a humanitarian crisis and damage to critical civilian infrastructure has left many with limited or no access to heat, electricity or medical services. Ukrainian nationals cannot safely return at this time, and allowing TPS to terminate on October 19, 2026, would risk sending more than one hundred thousand individuals back to an active war zone. Ukrainian TPS holders contribute greatly to our communities, both culturally and economically. To ensure that eligible Ukrainian nationals currently in the United States can continue living and working safely while conditions in their home country remain perilous, we urge you issue an extension and redesignation of TPS for Ukraine.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-leads-golden-dome-hearing-questions-scholars-on-costs-and-impacts-to-american-taxpayer", "King Leads Golden Dome Hearing, Questions Scholars on Costs and Impacts to American Taxpayer", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "To watch or download the exchange, click here\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, questioned leading authorities on the costs and impacts of the President\u2019s proposed Golden Dome missile defense project on the American taxpayer. As details surrounding the ambitious military program remain vague, Senator King took the advantage of the open hearing to gain more concrete information from the assembled experts.\n\nIn his exchange with the Honorable David Trachtenberg, a senior scholar at the National Institute for Public Policy, the Senator asked how much the Golden Dome would cost the American taxpayer and who and what American territory would be protected by the defense program.\n\nSenator King began his remarks, \u201cFirst I have an issue with how this program is being funded. That is not really your problem, but it\u2019s being funded principally through reconciliation, which is a totally partisan process with very little input from the appropriations committee or the members of this committee. It has very little restrictions in the way of how it can be spent. So I want it on the record, as I mentioned at the beginning, that this is one of the most expensive and important initiatives of this government and it should be one that has broad popular support, indicated by broad support here in the congress. The fact that the vast bulk of it was funded first in the reconciliation last year and is proposed for this year, I think is very bothersome from the point of view of process.\n\n\u201c\u2026The other piece of this that bothers me, I was looking at the president's executive order, which says it will deter and defend its citizens and critical infrastructure, provide for the common defense of its citizens,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cThe implication of the term golden dome is a national coverage. I think all of you will agree that that is just not in the cards. So, one of the questions that has to be discussed is, who is being protected? And what is the golden dome actually going to do? The nomenclature implies an arch over the entire country that is protected from any kind of missile attack. Would you agree that is not what we are talking about here?\u201d\n\nTrachtenberg replied, \u201cSenator, I would suggest that the nature of golden dome is to try to produce a system capable of a much broader level of defense for the American people and for the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo, this means every American citizen can sleep better tonight because they are protected from a missile attack?\u201d Senator King asked.\n\n\u201cWith all due respect, Senator, I don't think that is the appropriate metric to use,\u201d Trachtenberg answered. \u201cI believe the appropriate metric is, as I stated is can we build a system that provides a level of protection that dissuades and discourages.\u201d\n\nSenator King followed up, \u201cTo whom? To whom? Who is being protected and who makes that decision? Are you telling me that every citizen in America can be protected by this system?\n\nTrachtenberg concluded, \u201cNo, I'm not saying every citizen can be protected.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo if that is the case, who decides who is protected and who isn\u2019t?\u201d Senator King asked again.\n\nTrachtenberg replied, \u201cI think that the actual architecture would be, again, I don't have insight into the current architectural plans, but I think it would be deployed probably in phases or in stages, at certain times when the architecture is ready. But I think it should be expansive. I'm a firm believer, Senator, in the old air force recruiting motto, aim high. I think we should aim high on this. We may not get there, I agree. But I would rather aim high than aim low, in terms of what we are attempting to do.\u201d\n\nKing focused his concerns on the actual scope of the program, which portions of the country would be protected, and on obtaining realistic cost estimates.\n\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Strategic Forces \u2013 which oversees the United States\u2019 nuclear arsenal and posture \u2013 Senator King has been an outspoken voice on the need to address the growing nuclear capacity of our adversaries and to protect the threats by our adversaries to the mainland United States.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-welcome-bangors-selection-as-one-of-four-potential-locations-for-new-kc-46-squadron", "Senators Collins, King Welcome Bangor\u2019s Selection as One of Four Potential Locations for New KC-46 Squadron", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today welcomed the Air Force\u2019s decision to advance the Bangor Air National Guard Base as a potential location for a new KC-46A air refueling squadron. The two Senators received news moments ago that Bangor is one of four finalists from an initial field of 14 Air National Guard bases.\n\nSenators Collins and King were briefed on the decision by Mr. Michael Saunders, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment and Major General Bryony Terrell, Deputy Director of the Air National Guard.\n\n\u201cThis announcement from the Air Force is an important step toward equipping the MAINEiacs with the advanced aircraft they need to carry out their critical mission,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cBangor\u2019s strategic location and the proven excellence of the 101st Air Refueling Wing make a compelling case for bringing the KC-46 to Maine. We will continue to press for Bangor\u2019s selection as the selection process continues.\u201d\n\nIf selected, Bangor would gain significantly more advanced refueling capabilities as the KC-46A would replace, over time, the aging KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 101st Air Refueling Wing. The first aircraft would be expected to arrive in 2030.\n\nThe remaining finalists will undergo further site analysis and evaluation. A decision for a preferred location on KC-46A Main Operating Base 9 is expected in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2027.\n\nSenator Collins secured $50 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 full-year continuing resolution for a universal fuel cell hangar in Bangor capable of accommodating the KC-46A, strengthening the base\u2019s readiness for future aircraft. She also secured nearly $9.6 million in Fiscal Year 2024 military construction funding for Maine National Guard projects in Bangor and Saco. Additionally, of the more than $428.6 million in Congressionally Directed Spending Senator Collins secured for Maine in Fiscal Year 2026 funding bills, $2.5 million will support a new aircraft maintenance and ground equipment facility at Bangor Air National Guard Base.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Senator King has been a steadfast supporter of the armed forces, including Bangor\u2019s 101st Air Refueling Wing. In a SASC hearing, he touted the \u201cMAINEiacs\u201d and reminded then-Chief of Staff of the Air Force of the strategic importance of Bangor Air National Guard. He secured key provisions in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to help protect the Maine Air National Guard \u2014 guaranteeing that as the Air Force modernizes the tanker fleet, it replaces older aircraft on a one-for-one basis \u2014 and ensure support for all branches of the military to make sure that servicemembers can continue providing best in class services to protect the \u2018territory of the brave.\u2019\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-veterans-access-to-high-cost-prescription-medications", "King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans\u2019 Access to High-Cost Prescription Medications", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to improve access to high-cost prescription drugs for veterans living in state veterans\u2019 homes. The Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act would require the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) to reimburse State Veterans Homes (SVH) for high-cost medications that exceed 8.5% of their per diem rate, like the arrangement many private contract nursing homes currently have with the VA. Alternatively, it could require the VA to provide these medications directly to the SVHs. Maine has six SVH\u2019s in locations across the state.\n\nCurrently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not pay State Veterans Homes for high-cost medications for severely disabled veterans, which are covered for veterans who reside outside the facilities. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) joins Senator King as a lead co-sponsor of the bill.\n\n\u201cOur men and women in uniform didn\u2019t hesitate when it came time to answer the call and serve the nation \u2013 we shouldn\u2019t hesitate to make their retirement from service as comfortable as possible,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cIf the VA covers veterans\u2019 medications when they are living at a private nursing home, those cost reimbursements should be the same when veterans choose to enter a facility that specializes in taking care of veterans. This bipartisan Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act is a crucial piece of legislation that will ensure our veterans continue to receive the care they have earned, regardless of where they chose to live.\u201d\n\n\u201cState veterans\u2019 homes should never have to turn away elderly and disabled veterans because lifesaving medications are too expensive,\u201d said Senator Banks. \u201cThis bipartisan bill will help states cover those costs and expedite care for our nation\u2019s heroes.\u201d\n\nSince the successful passage of the PACT Act in 2022, there has been a significant increase in the number of veterans adjudicated as being severely disabled. For these veterans, the VA currently pays a per diem but doesn\u2019t pay the State Veterans Homes for the cost of extremely high-cost medications which often cost the homes more than VA is paying (sometimes more than $1000 a day). The result has been a rise in veterans being refused SVH admissions, SVHs having to foot the costs of certain lifesaving medications \u2013 or the SVHs discharging them due to expense.\n\n\u201cThis legislation addresses a clear and consequential gap in federal policy. Private facilities that contract with the VA receive direct reimbursement for high-cost medications, while State Veterans Homes like Maine Veterans\u2019 Homes do not. That inequity can force Veterans Homes to weigh the extraordinary cost of a Veteran\u2019s medications during the admissions process\u2014something no Veteran or Veterans Home should face,\u201d said Brad Klawitter, Maine Veterans\u2019 Homes CEO. \u201cMaine Veterans\u2019 Homes provides high-quality care in a setting specifically designed to honor the service and sacrifice of our Veterans. Reimbursement for high-cost medications is essential to our ability to continue serving Veterans in our communities, including those with complex medical needs. These Veterans served our state and country, and they deserve access to a Veterans Home where their service is understood, respected and honored. Closing this gap must be a priority.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe National Association of State Veterans Homes (NASVH) strongly supports the bipartisan Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act which would ensure exorbitantly high-cost medications don\u2019t limit long-term care options for aging and disabled veterans,\u201d said Ryan Engle, NASVH President. \u201c\u201cNASVH is grateful for the leadership of Senators Angus King and Jim Banks in introducing legislation to improve the lives of highly service-connected disabled veterans and strengthen the State Veterans Homes system.\u201d\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. In March, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-slams-unconstitutional-lawlessness-of-trump-rescissions", "King Slams \u201cUnconstitutional Lawlessness\u201d of Trump Rescissions", "2026-09-26", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) issued the following response to news that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rescinded nearly one billion dollars of Congressionally-approved bipartisan spending without warning or Congressional authorization:\n\n\u201cThis administration\u2019s Office of Management and Budget has just unilaterally taken away 800 million dollars that Congress passed on a bipartisan basis towards key priorities \u2013 in blatant defiance of the Constitution and federal law.\n\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t a vague legal concept they are abusing; it\u2019s grade school-level American government: Article 1 of the United States Constitution. Elected lawmakers make funding decisions to provide for the common defense and support the general welfare - that\u2019s the beating heart of representational democracy.\n\n\u201cBut this President and his administration no doubt believe they can get away with such an illegal action \u2013 because, for over 20 months, they have. Watching the President spend billions on his unauthorized and illegal war that is costing lives and wrecking household budgets; wage economic warfare on our allies through tariffs that hike costs for Americans on everyday goods and spend over a billion dollars on his vanity projects, the Congressional majority has shown no resistance.\n\n\u201cWhy does he believe he can claw back a nearly billion dollars of bipartisan-approved Congressional spending? Because this Congress has enabled him by declining to stand up for itself and the rule of law \u2013 even voting down a Senate attempt to formally ban rescissions like this on party lines. After nearly two years of this explicitly unconstitutional lawlessness, will my colleagues finally say \u2018no more?\u2019 I urge my colleagues to come together, reject this unconstitutional pattern of behavior, and reset the balance among the branches of government.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump is having enough difficulty doing his job; Congress should take this opportunity to do ours.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-27T10:23:37Z", "2026-09-27T10:25:08Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-celebrate-maines-iconic-lobster-industry-on-national-lobster-day", "Collins, King Celebrate Maine\u2019s Iconic Lobster Industry on \u2018National Lobster Day\u2019", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins are celebrating Maine\u2019s iconic lobster industry after the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan resolution recognizing September 25, 2026, as \u201cNational Lobster Day.\u201d The resolution recognizes the crustacean as a foundational part of Maine\u2019s economy and culture. The resolution also highlights the environmental and economic impact of this heritage industry.\n\n\u201cFueling the lobster\u2019s iconic status are the hardworking men and women who wake up early every morning in towns up and down our coastline to carry on the proud lobstering tradition,\u201d said Senator King and Collins. \u201cThis National Lobster Day, let us highlight their work to ensure the long-term health, resiliency, and sustainability of our waters and the hundreds of millions of dollars they bring to our local economy. Our lobstermen bring immeasurable pride to our great state and this resolution is just one way we can acknowledge and appreciate their service to our communities.\u201d\n\n\"National Lobster Day comes at peak Maine Lobster season and is the perfect time to enjoy the sweet flavor and tender texture of your favorite lobster dish,\u201d said Marianne LaCroix, Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. \u201cWhile celebrating this delicious treat, people are also supporting the independent fishermen and coastal communities that have worked for generations to bring lobster to tables everywhere.\"\n\nLobster is a top economic driver for the state of Maine. The Maine lobster fishery is one of the oldest continually operated industries in North America, with the first documented catch dating back to the 1600s. Today, Maine is the largest lobster-producing state in the nation. Each year, the fishery employs 5,600+ independent lobstermen, harvests 100+ million pounds of lobster, and contributes $1+ billion to the Maine economy.\n\nSenator King and Collins have been top advocates for the Maine lobster industry, most recently urging Senate action to extend the current lobster regulatory pause to protect Maine\u2019s sustainable lobster industry from misguided regulations that would have been devastating for the industry. This action follows Senators Collins and King securing a provision in the fiscal year 2022 annual appropriations spending bill which included the original regulatory reprieve. Additionally, the Senators secured more than $1.9 million for lobster research in 2024 to address critical knowledge gaps and improve fisheries.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-legislation-supporting-fire-departments-and-boosting-community-home-safety-standards", "King Introduces Legislation Supporting Fire Departments and Boosting Community Home Safety Standards", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing a key piece of legislation that would support fire departments responding to in-home emergencies. More specifically, the FASTER Act would fund grants to support fire department safety visits, simple home modifications like grab bars, and connections to lifesaving community resources.\n\nThe legislation is being introduced during the annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week and would empower local fire departments to initiate a program where seniors could sign up to get lock boxes installed (local FD had the master key) so Emergency Medical Services (EMS) don\u2019t have to knock down their door to get inside to respond to an emergency. While at the senior\u2019s home installing the lock box, the fire department staff could also evaluate the home for fall hazards and suggest minor home modifications.\n\nOn a percentage basis, Maine leads the nation with the largest 65 and older population. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older. There are roughly 1 million fall-related hospitalizes and 3 million emergency department visits annually across the country due to falls.\n\n\u201cWe all know the saying \u2018an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,\u2019 and preventative care is a win-win for Maine patients, families and the taxpayers,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe FASTER Act is a critical step forward in supporting older Maine people and making sure that fire departments have the tools and resources to respond to in-home emergencies promptly while avoiding costly complications. Tools like lock boxes, grab bars or handrails can be the difference between a simple installation and an avoidable injury, while reducing time-consuming delays for responders. This is just another effort we are making in the Congress to help Maine people\u2014and all older Americans\u2014to stand strong.\u201d\n\nPreventing falls is also about enabling adults to age comfortably in their homes, which is where most Americans want to age. At a time of affordability challenges and when inflation continues to rise, preventing falls is also cost saver for the average American and the taxpayers, with a private nursing home room cost now averaging more than $120,000 per year.\n\nMore specifically, the FASTER Act would:\n\nRequire the Administrator of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make three-year grants to fire departments to implement fall prevention programs.\n\nGrants would be used for the following:\n\nTo procure and install lock boxes accessible by emergency personnel for seniors in need of assistance;\n\nMinor home modifications to reduce fall risks, including flattening of rugs, removal of tripping hazards, and installation of hand rails and grab bars;\n\nOther health and safety tasks, including installing and replacing smoke detectors and batteries, risk assessment and reconciliation of medications, and referral to falls prevention classes.\n\nThe bill would authorize the program for ten years, with $1 million for the first three years and increasing incrementally up to $7 million for the final year.\n\n\u201cAs more older Americans live in their own homes, timely access by fire departments and EMS in the event of a fall can mean the difference between life and death,\u201d said Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging. \u201cWe are grateful to Senator King for his continued bipartisan, bicameral efforts to advance falls prevention strategies by introducing the Senate version of the FASTER Act during Falls Prevention Awareness Week 2026.\u201d\n\nAccording to a 2024 report from the National Institute of Health, Medicare spent over $50 billion dollars on direct medical expenses related to falls \u2013 with the average fall-related injury costing about $20,000.\n\nAs an extension of his longtime focus on prevention efforts, Senator King has been leading the charge in the falls prevention space on cost-effective solutions like bathmats. Senator King introduced the \u2018Stand Strong\u2019 legislative package, which included the Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act that would require the development of a National Falls Prevention Plan. The package also included the Preventive Home Visits Act, which would provide Medicare coverage for qualified care providers to assess the safety of seniors\u2019 homes, and the Wellness and Education for Longer Lives (WELL) for Seniors Act, which would improve Medicare\u2019s Annual Wellness Visit to encourage seniors and their physicians to work together and confront health issues before they become more serious.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-talks-affordability-energy-costs-and-propublica-on-all-things-with-kim-strassel", "Senator Collins Talks Affordability, Energy Costs, and ProPublica on \u201cAll Things with Kim Strassel\u201d", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Full video: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.\n\nOn Affordability: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.\n\nOn Lowering Energy Costs: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.\n\nOn ProPublica Article: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined The Wall Street Journal\u2019s \u201cAll Things with Kim Strassel\u201d podcast to discuss a variety of topics, including how the Senate should address affordability issues before the October recess, her bipartisan INSULIN Act, lowering energy costs in Maine, and a recent article from ProPublica.\n\nOn Affordability:\n\nKim Strassel:\n\nThe Senate was supposed to be in session until October and now looks as if it may close shop early, cut loose members, send them home. There's lots of possibilities being floated in the news: possibility of permitting reform, of a college athletes bill, of a vote on data center costs, a war powers resolution on Iran, maybe some confirmations. What, if anything, do you see actually happening before the Senate leaves? Or is the answer none of the above?\n\nSen. Collins:\n\nThat's a really hard question to answer. Right now, we're on the college sports bill, the Name, Image, and Likeness bill. Whether we'll be able to complete that, I really don't know. But from my perspective, we should be taking up a permitting bill. We've been talking about that for a long time. That would make such a difference in providing more affordable housing more quickly, more energy more quickly. It would make a difference ultimately in projects that would help lower costs. And I think that's what our focus should be. I've also suggested that we bring up the Military Construction-Veterans Administration bill. That's a funding bill that the Appropriations Committee has some pretty good bipartisan consensus for. The House has passed its version. And I think it would be important to send a signal to those who are serving us in the military, and also to those who have served us, our veterans, that we've taken care of a billion-dollar gap in veterans\u2019 health care. So, that would be a second priority for me. And third, I'd love to see a bill that Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and I have been working on for a long time that would place a cap on the price of insulin, a drug that's been around for more than a hundred years. And it would make a real difference if we cap the cost of insulin for those who receive insurance through the workplace. It's already been capped under the Medicare program at $35 a month. The average price is often $150 a month. So, that's an area where I think we could make a real difference\u2014in health care costs.\n\nOn Lowering Energy Costs:\n\nKim Strassel:\n\nAs you go out and you're in Maine, how are you trying to phrase that to voters\u2014about what is the reason why they should return you in particular to the Senate, but want Republicans to stay in control?\n\nSen. Collins:\n\nWell, I would go back to the cost of energy, because that is a huge issue in my state. I just today have asked the president to release oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. That's sort of like a strategic petroleum reserve for the Northeast. That would help put downward pressure on prices and it would increase supply in the Northeast. I also have joined with Jack Reed, the Democratic Senator from Rhode Island, in asking the Administration to release the low-income home heating program money right off. Winter is here; it's coming. It's right around the corner. We're filling our oil tanks right now. Low-income families and seniors on limited incomes need that assistance. We need to expand the weatherization program so that you don't have to spend as much to heat your home and stay warm in the winter. So, energy costs are the number one issue that people are expressing real worry about to me. I think those are three immediate steps that we could do, permitting in the long term. I would note that when President Biden canceled the XL pipeline, which would've brought in oil from Canada to the United States, that was an enormous mistake, enormous. How I wish that that pipeline, which would be completed about now, I believe, were bringing more oil to us. We've got to become energy independent.\n\nOn ProPublica Article:\n\nKim Strassel:\n\nSo, let's talk about your race in Maine. You are no stranger to some very tough races there, being a Republican in Maine. And here we go again, including, and I'm just going to start with this, some nasty politics. And to that point, I'm going to go right at it. A remarkable story that just came out in which ProPublica regurgitates these seven-year-old claims made by a convicted felon who somehow argued your office was engaged in corruption. I should note that no less than the Biden FBI came out five years ago and said it had looked at all angles of this particular situation that this individual is involved in\u2014said it was \u201ctotally false\u201d that there had been wrongdoing by you or those who worked for you. Why is this story coming out now and what is going on here?\n\nSen. Collins:\n\nWell, it's clearly a partisan hit job. And I've got to say, I do not understand how anyone would take the word of a felon who's been convicted twice, twice, two separate cases, of five counts of money laundering, counts of bank fraud, false submissions to the FEC. He is a convicted liar. When you contrast that to my decades of honest public service with the utmost integrity, it is so offensive. As you pointed out, the Biden-led Justice Department and FBI totally cleared my office, my campaign, and me five years ago of these seven-year-old allegations. And the FBI said again today that these are completely false. And it is so offensive. But clearly the timing is not coincidental. This is a smear job. And as someone who has always prided herself on serving with integrity, it really offends me. And I'm offended for my staff too, both on the campaign and in the personal office. So, shame on ProPublica for taking the words of a twice convicted felon over my office campaign staff and me\u2014it's disgraceful.\n\nKim Strassel:\n\nWell, there you have it. That is from Susan Collins right there\u2014the definitive comment on that story.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-call-on-president-trump-to-release-home-heating-oil-from-northeast-reserve-as-prices-surge", "Senators Collins, King Call on President Trump to Release Home Heating Oil from Northeast Reserve as Prices Surge", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King sent a letter to President Trump urging him to release supply from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to help protect Mainers from high costs as the cold weather months approach.\n\nAccording to the Maine Department of Energy Resources\u2019 most recent weekly fuel survey, statewide heating oil prices have increased by 74 percent compared to this time last year. It now costs approximately $675 more to fill a standard heating oil tank than it did last year, imposing a significant hardship on the half of Maine households that heat their homes with fuel oil.\n\n\u201cWe write to request that you release home heating oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to protect Mainers from the very high prices that are imposing a difficult financial burden,\u201d Senators Collins and King wrote. \u201cYou ordered a release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve earlier this year to help address rising costs, and we believe the same urgency now applies to the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Energy Information Administration\u2019s (EIA) latest Short-Term Energy Outlook finds that U.S. distillate fuel inventories, which include home heating oil, fell below the five-year range in April and are expected to remain below the 2021\u20132025 low through the end of 2026 and most of 2027,\u201d they continued. \u201cAccording to the EIA, \u2018Low inventories may also contribute to higher prices for residential heating oil in the Northeastern United States.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cFurther, the conflict in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine War have prevented additional heating oil from reaching the global market. Maine is particularly vulnerable to global supply shocks because our state imports much of our home heating oil. With both domestic and international supplies running low, a release from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve would help ease these prices,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nClick here to read their letter in full.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-call-on-president-trump-to-release-home-heating-oil-from-northeast-reserve-as-prices-surge", "Senators Collins, King Call on President Trump to Release Home Heating Oil from Northeast Reserve as Prices Surge", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King sent a letter to President Trump urging him to release supply from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to help protect Mainers from high costs as the cold weather months approach.\n\nAccording to the Maine Department of Energy Resources\u2019 most recent weekly fuel survey, statewide heating oil prices have increased by 74 percent compared to this time last year. It now costs approximately $675 more to fill a standard heating oil tank than it did last year, imposing a significant hardship on the half of Maine households that heat their homes with fuel oil.\n\n\u201cWe write to request that you release home heating oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to protect Mainers from the very high prices that are imposing a difficult financial burden,\u201d Senators Collins and King wrote. \u201cYou ordered a release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve earlier this year to help address rising costs, and we believe the same urgency now applies to the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Energy Information Administration\u2019s (EIA) latest Short-Term Energy Outlook finds that U.S. distillate fuel inventories, which include home heating oil, fell below the five-year range in April and are expected to remain below the 2021\u20132025 low through the end of 2026 and most of 2027,\u201d they continued. \u201cAccording to the EIA, \u2018Low inventories may also contribute to higher prices for residential heating oil in the Northeastern United States.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cFurther, the conflict in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine War have prevented additional heating oil from reaching the global market. Maine is particularly vulnerable to global supply shocks because our state imports much of our home heating oil. With both domestic and international supplies running low, a release from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve would help ease these prices,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nClick here to read their letter in full.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-nichols-inc-manufacturing-facility-in-portland", "Senator Collins Visits Nichols Inc. Manufacturing Facility in Portland", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nPORTLAND, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Nichols Inc. in Portland to tour the factory floor and speak with employees and company leadership. Nichols\u2019 200,000-square-foot Portland facility employs approximately 225 people and produces pumps, valves, gears, and other precision components.\n\n\u201cI enjoyed touring Nichols\u2019 Portland facility, speaking with its highly skilled employees, and learning more about the innovative manufacturing processes they use to produce precision components. Nichols\u2019 advanced manufacturing operations are supporting hundreds of good jobs in Southern Maine and are an excellent example of the skill and expertise of Maine\u2019s manufacturing workforce,\u201d said Senator Collins.\n\nNichols uses manufacturing processes including additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, sintering, and metal injection molding. The company was founded in 1904 in Waltham, Massachusetts, and opened its Portland operation in 1968. Nichols also operates a manufacturing facility in South Portland.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-nichols-portland-inc-manufacturing-facility", "Senator Collins Visits Nichols Portland, Inc. Manufacturing Facility", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nPORTLAND, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Nichols Portland, Inc. to tour the factory floor and speak with employees and company leadership. Nichols\u2019 200,000-square-foot Portland facility employs approximately 225 people and produces gerotors, pumps, valves, gears, and other precision components.\n\n\u201cI enjoyed touring Nichols Portland's facility, speaking with its highly skilled employees, and learning more about the innovative manufacturing processes they use to produce precision components. Nichols\u2019 advanced manufacturing operations are supporting hundreds of good jobs in Southern Maine and are an excellent example of the skill and expertise of Maine\u2019s manufacturing workforce,\u201d said Senator Collins.\n\nNichols Porltand uses manufacturing processes including additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, sintering, and metal injection molding. The company was founded in 1904 in Waltham, Massachusetts, and opened its Portland operation in 1968. Nichols also operates a manufacturing facility in South Portland.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-attends-blue-mass-in-lewiston", "Senator Collins Attends Blue Mass in Lewiston", "2026-09-20", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nLEWISTON, ME \u2013 This morning, U.S. Senator Susan Collins attended the 2026 Blue Mass at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston. Bishop James Ruggieri celebrated the Mass and was joined by priests and deacons from throughout the Diocese. The gathering paid tribute to the unwavering dedication and acts of selflessness exhibited by local, state, and federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency responders.\n\n\u201cWhen crises or disasters strike, it is our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs who are the first to arrive, fearlessly rushing into danger to save lives. The annual Blue Mass serves as a special occasion dedicated to honoring these heroes who courageously put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThank you to Bishop James Ruggieri for celebrating the Mass with those gathered today. And to all the first responders throughout our state, thank you for committing your lives to ensuring the safety of others. It is a debt we can truly never repay.\u201d\n\nThe Blue Mass, referring to the blue uniforms worn by so many public safety personnel, dates to 1934 and is a venerable tradition in many dioceses. The Mass was planned and organized by diocesan officials and representatives from local, county, and state public safety agencies. The events of Sept. 11, 2001, served as the impetus for the Diocese of Portland to institute the Blue Mass in Maine.\n\nLast year, Senator Collins attended the Blue Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-21T10:25:24Z", "2026-09-21T10:26:54Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-new-balance-contract-to-produce-athletic-shoes-in-maine-for-the-us-military", "Senator Collins Announces New Balance Contract to Produce Athletic Shoes in Maine for the U.S. Military", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that New Balance has been awarded a contract by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to provide athletic shoes for members of the U.S. military. The shoes will be produced at the New Balance Central Maine facility in Skowhegan.\n\nUnder the three-year contract, DLA could purchase up to 540,000 pairs of New Balance athletic shoes, with a minimum purchase of 22,000 pairs annually.\n\n\u201cNew Balance is a great American company, and it is terrific news that more of our nation\u2019s servicemembers will now be outfitted with high-quality athletic shoes made right here in the United States. Maintaining a strong American footwear supply chain is important to our national security and helps ensure that our servicemembers have access to the best equipment when they need it most. I have worked closely with New Balance for years to support American footwear manufacturing and to strengthen the domestic industrial base that our military depends on. This contract builds on that longstanding partnership and is a major win for New Balance, its hardworking employees in Maine, and for American manufacturing,\u201d said Senator Collins.\n\n\u201cNew Balance is proud to have been awarded this contract to provide our U.S. service members with our specialized MADE in USA 0430 athletic footwear for basic training,\u201d said Kevin McCoy, Vice President for MADE at New Balance. \u201cSenator Collins\u2019 strong leadership and relentless support for American manufacturing have helped to ensure our country\u2019s military recruits will receive high-quality athletic shoes produced by our skilled associates in Central Maine.\u201d\n\nSenator Collins has long worked to support New Balance and American footwear manufacturing. She and other members of the Maine Delegation successfully secured a provision in the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Department of Defense to provide military recruits with American-made athletic footwear in accordance with the Berry Amendment. The provision allowed domestic manufacturers such as New Balance to compete for military footwear contracts. In 2018, the DLA awarded New Balance a $17.3 million contract to provide American-made athletic shoes to military recruits, which were also produced in Maine.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/signed-into-law-senators-collins-bennet-bipartisan-bill-to-allow-early-childhood-educators-to-deduct-out-of-pocket-purchases-of-classroom-supplies", "SIGNED INTO LAW: Senators Collins, Bennet Bipartisan Bill to Allow Early Childhood Educators to Deduct Out-of-Pocket Purchases of Classroom Supplies", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Michael Bennet today celebrated their Supporting Early-Childhood Educators\u2019 Deductions (SEED) Act being signed into law. This legislation expands the federal tax deduction for out-of-pocket classroom supply purchases that Senator Collins authored to early childhood educators.\n\n\u201cIn Maine and across the country, we are fortunate to have so many dedicated educators who work hard to ensure that every child has a learning environment that is safe, welcoming, and enriching. Despite tight personal budgets, it is truly remarkable how often teachers use money out of their own pockets to purchase classroom supplies for their students,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cAs the author of the original tax credit for K-12 teachers, I am delighted to help expand this benefit to pre-K educators. I thank Senator Bennet for his partnership in this effort to provide early childhood educators with well-deserved tax relief, and I am proud that our bill has now become law.\u201d\n\n\u201cEarly childhood educators should be able to claim the same tax deduction available to elementary and secondary school teachers,\u201d said Senator Bennet. \u201cI am glad that this legislation has been signed into law because as the former Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, I know firsthand how often educators dip into their own pockets to provide school supplies for their students. This law will end an unfair double standard and ensures that those who teach our youngest kids are supported.\u201d\n\nResearch shows that educators spend an average of $895 annually on supplies for their students. Yet, early childhood educators previously could not deduct those out-of-pocket expenses.\n\nThe SEED Act corrects this disparity and extends tax relief to the teachers working with America\u2019s youngest learners. The bill expands the above-the-line $350 educator expense deduction, established for K-12 teachers in 2002 by legislation authored by Senator Collins, to also include pre-K and early childhood educators. This deduction helps offset hundreds of dollars teachers spend out of their own pockets each year on classroom supplies, books, and other learning materials.\n\nThe SEED Act is supported by a broad coalition of education and child advocacy organizations, including the First Five Years Fund, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC), the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Save the Children, the Center for American Progress, the American Federation of Teachers, Teach For America, and Trying Together.\n\n\u201cWe are deeply grateful to Senators Collins and Bennet, and Representatives Fitzpatrick, Panetta, Valadao and Goodlander, and the bipartisan lawmakers in both chambers who championed the SEED Act and helped get it across the finish line,\u201d said Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of First Five Years Fund (FFYF). \u201cWe look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to advance bipartisan solutions that strengthen child care for families, educators, and communities across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cExecutives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) strongly supports the bipartisan Supporting Early-Childhood Educators\u2019 Deductions (SEED) Act. Early childhood educators support children\u2019s development and learning during their most formative years while enabling parents to participate in the workforce and helping our businesses and communities thrive. Yet these essential professionals, who already earn modest wages, too often pay out of pocket for the books, supplies and materials children need,\u201d said Nicole Riehl, President and CEO, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children. \u201cExtending the federal educator expense deduction to early childhood educators is a commonsense step that recognizes their invaluable work and strengthens the workforce of today while investing in the workforce of tomorrow. EPIC thanks Senator Michael Bennet and Senator Susan Collins, along with their bipartisan House partners, for championing this important legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cNAEYC applauds the bipartisan passage of the Supporting Early Childhood Educators\u2019 Deductions Act, which reimburses early childhood educators for the out-of-pocket classroom expenses they take on to improve children\u2019s learning environments, as K-12 educators have long been able to do,\u201d said the National Association for the Education of Young Children. \u201cWe are grateful that Congress is taking a step to recognize the complex, skilled, professional work of early childhood educators which lays the foundation for the youngest children to thrive. We look forward to building on this effort to support the early childhood education workforce by continuing to push for needed investments in quality ECE and compensation for early childhood educators working in all settings.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe earliest years of a child\u2019s life are among the most important for their development, and early childhood educators play a critical role during those years. Yet too often, these educators reach into their own pockets to buy the books, supplies, and materials they need to support the children in their classrooms,\u201d said Allison Dembeck, Head of Policy, Save the Children. \u201cWe are pleased to see the bipartisan SEED Act become law, giving early childhood educators access to the same tax deduction already available to K-12 teachers. This is a meaningful and long-overdue recognition of the educators who care for and teach our youngest children, and an investment in children and their futures.\u201d\n\nThe complete text of this legislation can be read here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-joins-colleagues-demanding-answers-from-hegseth-on-human-economic-cost-of-iran-war", "King Joins Colleagues Demanding Answers from Hegseth on Human, Economic Cost of Iran War", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is calling on the Pentagon to provide basic information on the cost to American taxpayers of the Iran War. In a letter to Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Pete Hegseth from King and several of his colleagues, the senators demand a full accounting of the costs of the ongoing war with Iran and criticized the DoD for withholding basic budget information from Congress and the American public even as U.S. casualties and costs continue to increase.\n\nIn their letter, the senators highlight the contrast between the current Pentagon\u2019s transparency record with past wartime practice, noting that Secretary Hegseth has briefed Congress only seven times in six months and held just eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the war began, compared to more than 70 press briefings in the first month of the Iraq War alone. The senators also criticized the administration\u2019s public supplemental funding request as a seven-page document offering only vague line items, in contrast to the detailed, hundred-page supplemental requests provided to Congress during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.\n\nThe senators wrote, \u201cWe write regarding the Department of Defense\u2019s failure to provide the American people with basic information about the war with Iran and its cost to taxpayers, even as the human costs of this war rise. More than six months into a war that the President said would last six weeks, 18 American servicemembers have been killed, 824 have been wounded, and more than 50,000 troops are currently deployed in the Middle East\u2026Meanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war. Now you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.\u201d\n\n\u201cBased on the little information provided, the Department says it has already spent $42 billion on this war, though unofficial estimates put that figure much higher,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cIn June, you formally asked the American taxpayers to foot the bill for a $67 billion Iran war supplemental request. This is on top of the Pentagon\u2019s $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 budget request. And all of these pending requests come while the Department still has $34 billion in unspent funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In the last week, the Congressional Budget Office and the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General have issued their own reports with inconsistent numbers.\u201d\n\nThe senators concluded, \u201cThe American people elected us to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars. The information we are requesting is the bare minimum required for us to carry out that responsibility.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senator King, the letter is signed by Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Immediately following the American airstrikes in Iran earlier this year, he released a statement asking for answers and consultation with Congress before proceeding with further military action in the Middle East. He has also pressed several Pentagon nominees on the total cost of the ongoing conflict in Iran, expressing frustration that neither Congress nor the American people have received a clear accounting of the financial burden of military operations. Senator King has consistently supported War Powers resolutions, asserting Congress\u2019s constitutional authority over military conflicts, specifically demanding that the President either obtain congressional authorization for hostilities or remove U.S. Armed Forces from the conflict.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth:\n\nWe write regarding the Department of Defense\u2019s failure to provide the American people with basic information about the war with Iran and its cost to taxpayers, even as the human costs of this war rise. More than six months into a war that the President said would last six weeks, 18 American servicemembers have been killed, 824 have been wounded, and more than 50,000 troops are currently deployed in the Middle East. Our troops have had their deployments extended repeatedly, as with the USS Lincoln and now the 82nd Airborne. Our offices have all received outreach from military families concerned about the safety and well-being of their loved ones serving and sacrificing in this war.\n\nMeanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war. Now you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.\n\nBased on the little information provided, the Department says it has already spent $42 billion on this war, though unofficial estimates put that figure much higher. In June, you formally asked the American taxpayers to foot the bill for a $67 billion Iran war supplemental request. This is on top of the Pentagon\u2019s $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 budget request. And all of these pending requests come while the Department still has $34 billion in unspent funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In the last week, the Congressional Budget Office and the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General have issued their own reports with inconsistent numbers.\n\nDespite your stated needs, you have repeatedly refused to share basic information that previous Administrations, Republican and Democratic, provided to the American public and Congress during times of war. Donald Rumsfeld, as Secretary of Defense during the Iraq War, briefed Congress more than 20 times in the first six months of that war. In his briefings, he publicly provided granular detail about the war, including objectives; precise figures on damaged aircraft; quality of life for our troops\u2014down to the number of days it took to deliver mail; and detailed breakdowns for transportation, operational support, and munitions replenishment costs in the supplemental request. In stark contrast, you have briefed Congress just seven times in that same period and, in those appearances, refused to answer basic questions about the objectives and cost of this war. Your Department has held only eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the start of the Iran War, compared to more than 70 in the first month of the Iraq War alone.\n\nThis lack of basic information extends to the Pentagon\u2019s spending. During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress regularly received public supplemental requests that were more than a hundred pages long, with detailed explanations for how funding would be used, down to the number of barrels of fuel. In contrast, your public $67 billion Iran war supplemental request was a thin, seven-page document with only vague descriptions, such as \u201c$1.2 billion for Administration priorities.\u201d\n\nDespite asking for tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars, you have so far failed to provide basic information on how this money has and will be spent. Congress must have access to this information to carry out our oversight responsibilities. It is the bare minimum that any American would expect in balancing their own household budget.\n\nYou shared this belief before entering government. In 2012, you criticized the Department\u2019s ability to \u201cshift literally hundreds of millions of dollars from program to program with little accountability.\u201d You added, \u201c[r]eforming the culture at the Pentagon to bring greater spending accountability will be difficult, but it\u2019s long overdue.\u201d And just last year, you said that \u201cthe American taxpayers deserve\u201d to know where their money goes, \u201chow it's spent and make sure it's spent wisely.\u201d We agree.\n\nGiven this, we request the following information to inform the Senate\u2019s decision-making by September 30, 2026.\n\nCost of the Iran War: Please provide a detailed breakdown for the cost of military operations against Iran to date, inclusive of all direct and indirect costs attributable to the conflict. This should include damage to military installations, aircraft, and equipment; cost to refurbish deployed ships and aircraft; and expected benefits for veterans.\n\n$67 Billion Iran War Supplemental: Please provide a breakdown of the Administration\u2019s supplemental request, including a detailed accounting for each major funding category and estimated expenses for the war in Iran. This breakdown should identify which portions of the request are intended to reimburse costs already incurred, which are intended to fund anticipated future operations, and which are unrelated to military operations against Iran. Please also note potential future funding requirements not included in the request, such as repairing military installations.\n\nOne Big Beautiful Bill Act Funding: Please provide a detailed accounting of how the $34 billion remaining from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be spent, on what timeline, and whether any of these funds will support operations related to the Iran war.\n\nThe American people elected us to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars. The information we are requesting is the bare minimum required for us to carry out that responsibility. We look forward to receiving your response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/as-home-heating-season-approaches-senators-collins-reed-murkowski-lead-bipartisan-call-for-trump-administration-to-swiftly-release-liheap-funding", "As Home-Heating Season Approaches, Senators Collins, Reed, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Call for Trump Administration to Swiftly Release LIHEAP Funding", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 With winter fast approaching, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Jack Reed (D-RI), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are leading a bipartisan push for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) swiftly and at the highest level possible once funding becomes available on October 1, 2026.\n\nIn their letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., they stressed the critical importance of LIHEAP funding. This program is a lifeline that helps keep vulnerable Americans safe and warm during the winter by helping low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes afford their energy bills. Nationwide last year, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP, with Maine households receiving more than $42 million in LIHEAP funds.\n\nAfter the Administration proposed zeroing out funding for LIHEAP in its fiscal year 2027 budget plan, Senators Collins, Reed, and Murkowski led successful bipartisan pushback through their roles on the Senate Appropriations Committee to protect LIHEAP and continue funding for the program at more than $4 billion this year.\n\n\u201cAs you know, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (P.L. 119-103) requires the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute no less than 90 percent of its total LIHEAP allotment by November 1, 2026. Given the extraordinary pressure consumers will face this winter, we ask that you make this distribution well before the deadline,\u201d the 31 U.S. Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cOctober marks the start of the heating season for many states, and with temperatures already dropping, low-income families and seniors are feeling additional strains on their household budgets. As the main federal program benefiting these individuals with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance to vulnerable families and seniors during the cold winter and hot summer months. State agencies and tribes are already activating their LIHEAP programs for the coming winter. A quick release of funding will ensure no gaps in assistance,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe complete text of their letter can be read here.\n\nIn addition to Senators Collins, Reed, and Murkowski, the letter was signed by Senators Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Warner (D-VA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Gary Peters (D-MI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nLIHEAP is administered by states and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. Senior citizens and those receiving Social Security Disability or SSI benefits are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but applications will be open to everyone through spring of 2027\u2014or until the funding is exhausted. Mainers looking to apply for the program can review their eligibility here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-va-hiring-retention-of-high-skilled-doctors", "King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve VA Hiring, Retention of High-Skilled Doctors", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), is introducing bipartisan legislation that makes it easier for the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) medical centers to hire and better retain high-skilled doctors. The bipartisan VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment Act would allow the VA Secretary to issue waivers to VA medical directors and allow them to exceed existing salary caps if they need to hire or retain highly skilled physicians. The VA system currently faces a serious shortage of doctors, due in part to the higher pay rates available in the private sector. Joining Senator King on the legislation are Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).\n\nWhen the United States Congress passed the bipartisan Elizabeth Dole Act in December of 2024, it allowed the VA to exceed salary caps for a limited number of highly trained physicians and for a limited time. Senator King\u2019s bipartisan bill would allow the VA Secretary to issue as many waivers as necessary and allow this system to remain in place for the next five years after enactment allowing medical facilities a greater degree of certainty when they make hiring decisions. As VA Secretary Doug Collins discussed with Senator King in a recent SVAC hearing, the limitations of the current system created by the Elizabeth Dole Act are not giving the VA the flexibility it needs, resulting in the need for this type of legislation.\n\n\u201cOur men and women in uniform served our country with patriotism and without conditions, and they deserve medical attention with a minimum of red tape,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment would allow VA facilities to have a more competitive salary structure that will maintain high levels of care for our veterans and reduce the odds that the VA lose doctors to higher paying opportunities elsewhere.\u201d\n\n\u201cHiring and retaining skilled physicians is a serious challenge within the VA and it needs to be addressed now,\u201d Senator Fischer said. \u201cGiving the VA flexibility to retain medical professionals will help it compete with private-sector salaries and ensure veterans receive high-quality care. I thank Senators King and Blumenthal for their leadership, and I will continue working to support Nebraska\u2019s veterans.\u201d\n\n\u201cVA\u2019s current salary cap is outdated and counterproductive \u2014 hindering the Department as it competes with the private sector to hire doctors,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cOur bipartisan bill gives VA authority to raise physician salaries. As the cost of living continues to skyrocket, VA needs this authority to recruit and retain the best doctors around to serve veterans.\u201d\n\nThe VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment Act is also supported by Vietnam Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).\n\n\u201cWounded Warrior Project (WWP) supports efforts to ensure every veteran has timely access to high-quality care,\u201d said WWP Vice President of Government and Community Relations Jose Ramos. \u201cThe VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment Act would provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with greater flexibility to recruit and retain skilled health care professionals in areas with critical staffing needs. We appreciate Senator King\u2019s unwavering commitment to those who served and urge Congress to pass this important legislation.\u201d\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. In March, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\nOn the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs. Last year, he introduced the VA Claim Sharks Effective Warnings Act that would protect veterans from unaccredited claims representatives seeking to defraud them of their benefits. Earlier this year, he introduced the TAP Promotion Act which would allow accredited representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or other organizations, to participate in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes to help transitioning servicemembers file Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims. Additionally, he introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which would address an unfair rule in federal law that creates unnecessary delays when veterans with service-connected disabilities attempt to access earned education and employment benefits.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-stresses-importance-of-uschina-engagement-on-ais-shared-risks", "King Stresses Importance of U.S.\u2013China Engagement on AI\u2019s \u201cShared Risks\u201d", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Ahead of the White House\u2019s historic State Visit with President Xi Jinping of the People\u2019s Republic of China, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is underlining the crucial importance of productive engagement by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with the Chinese Government on the \u201cshared risks\u201d posed by artificial intelligence (AI). In a letter to Bessent, King acknowledges Bessent\u2019s recent public comments on his willingness to discuss critical AI risks with China and states that while the White House should continue to promote American leadership in the artificial intelligence space, continued conversations and dialogue with the Chinese government are critical to AI safety strategy in defense of all humankind.\n\nSenator King wrote, \u201cAs you are aware, the American people are increasingly concerned that rapid AI development poses risks that simply cannot be ignored. When an Anthropic employee responsible for ensuring that its models work as intended recently wrote that \u201c[w]e really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans,\u201d many Americans for the first time reckoned with the potentially catastrophic implications of uncontrolled AI development. While thoughtful domestic regulation of the frontier AI labs that are developing the most advanced models is one important aspect of ensuring the safety of the American people, earnest and sustained dialogue with the Chinese government is another critical element of any serious and durable AI safety strategy.\u201d\n\n\u201cChinese and American companies will continue to compete fiercely in the global market for AI products and services, and the U.S. government should continue to work closely with American AI companies to prevent the theft of intellectual property and ensure American leadership in this space,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cBut we also cannot lock ourselves into a race to the bottom with China on AI safety given the stakes.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccording to an expert on China\u2019s AI policy, the Cyberspace Administration of China has within the last year published an updated \u201cAI Safety & Governance Framework\u201d and created an \u201cAI Safety/Security Working Group\u201d called Working Group 9 to develop policies on frontier AI risks. To ensure that AI will be developed in a safe and sane manner, we should and must work with the Chinese government to create opportunities for American technical experts to exchange proposals with their Chinese counterparts,\u201d Senator King concluded.\n\nAs former Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) and current member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Senate Select Intelligence Committee (SSCI), Senator King is recognized as one of Congress\u2019 leading experts on cyber defense, cyber safety, and as a strong advocate for a forward-thinking cyber strategy. Since it officially launched in April 2019, dozens of CSC recommendations have been enacted into law, including the creation of a National Cyber Director.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Bessent:\n\nAhead of your meetings this weekend with a delegation from the People\u2019s Republic of China led by Vice Premier He and President Trump\u2019s meetings with President Xi next week, I write to express my appreciation for your stated willingness to engage with the Chinese government on the \u201cshared risks\u201d posed by Artificial Intelligence (\u201cAI\u201d) to both of our nations.\n\nAs you are aware, the American people are increasingly concerned that rapid AI development poses risks that simply cannot be ignored. When an Anthropic employee responsible for ensuring that its models work as intended recently wrote that \u201c[w]e really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans,\u201d many Americans for the first time reckoned with the potentially catastrophic implications of uncontrolled AI development. While thoughtful domestic regulation of the frontier AI labs that are developing the most advanced models is one important aspect of ensuring the safety of the American people, earnest and sustained dialogue with the Chinese government is another critical element of any serious and durable AI safety strategy.\n\nChinese and American companies will continue to compete fiercely in the global market for AI products and services, and the U.S. government should continue to work closely with American AI companies to prevent the theft of intellectual property and ensure American leadership in this space. But we also cannot lock ourselves into a race to the bottom with China on AI safety given the stakes. And there is good reason to expect that the Chinese government is thinking seriously about these issues. According to an American expert on China\u2019s AI policy, the Cyberspace Administration of China has within the last year published an updated \u201cAI Safety & Governance Framework\u201d and created an \u201cAI Safety/Security Working Group\u201d called Working Group 9 to develop policies on frontier AI risks.[1] To ensure that AI will be developed in a safe and sane manner, we should and must work with the Chinese government to create opportunities for American AI safety technical experts to exchange proposals with their Chinese counterparts.\n\nThank you again for your work to engage productively with the Chinese government on AI safety. I would appreciate staying in touch with you on these issues as Congress continues to debate how to appropriately respond to calls for federal regulation of frontier AI companies.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-600000-for-emergency-medical-services-in-maine", "Senator Collins Announces $600,000 for Emergency Medical Services in Maine", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that two emergency medical services (EMS) departments in Maine will receive a total of $600,000 through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration\u2019s (SAMHSA) Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) grant program.\n\nIn 2024, Senator Collins\u2019 bipartisan SIREN Reauthorization Act, which she co-authored with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), was signed into law. This legislation extended funding for SIREN Act grants through Fiscal Year 2028. SIREN grants support rural EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment, including naloxone to help address the opioid overdose epidemic.\n\n\u201cEmergency medical services are critical to ensuring that Mainers in every part of our state can receive the care they need,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThese investments in EMS agencies serving Maine\u2019s rural population will help to improve the quality and accessibility of health care across our state by supporting training for emergency medical personnel.\u201d\n\nThe funding is allocated as follows:\n\nBrooks Ambulance Service - $300,000 to improve EMS training for Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics.\n\nUnited Ambulance Service (Lewiston) - $300,000 to improve rural EMS training.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-secures-commitment-from-surgeon-general-nominee-to-address-rural-health-care-deserts-in-maine-during-confirmation-hearing", "Senator Collins Secures Commitment from Surgeon General Nominee to Address Rural Health Care Deserts in Maine During Confirmation Hearing", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, at a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, U.S. Senator Susan Collins questioned Dr. Nicole Saphier, the nominee to serve as U.S. Surgeon General, about rural Americans\u2019 access to breast cancer screenings. During their exchange, Dr. Saphier committed to working with Senator Collins and her staff on identifying and addressing health care deserts in Maine.\n\nSenator Collins has long worked to expand access to cancer screenings in rural Maine. In 2022, she secured more than $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to establish a mobile mammography unit in Piscataquis and Somerset counties. To date, the unit has screened more than 1,000 women for breast cancer. She also introduced the bipartisan Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act with Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), a lifesaving program that provides breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for women who are low-income, uninsured, and underinsured and do not qualify for Medicaid.\n\nA transcript of their exchange is as follows:\n\nClick HERE to watch and HERE to download video of their exchange.\n\nSenator Collins:\n\n\u201cDr. Saphier, you've been a strong advocate for women to get early breast cancer screenings in order to better treat and prevent this disease. Just this morning, I met in my office with a group of Mainers who had had cancer. They are big advocates for screening, for research, and it's very difficult in rural states where they may have to travel long distances. That's one reason that I secured funding for a mobile mammography machine to go all over rural areas. And I'm very proud of the fact that they've screened more than 1000 women who most likely would not have been screened, and in some cases, breast cancer has been detected. Senator Baldwin and I have introduced legislation that would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. It's been proven successful. It's detected nearly 80,000 breast cancers and over 25,000 pre-malignant breast lesions. Without access to early detection programs, many people, particularly those who are uninsured, are forced to delay or forego screening. As Surgeon General, how would you work to spread awareness about the importance of screenings, and also ensure that women, particularly those living in rural areas, have access to screenings?\u201d\n\nDr. Nicole Saphier:\n\n\u201cThank you, Senator Collins, for the question and for taking the time--you had a very busy day, and you were able to connect with me on the phone. And we spoke on a wide array of topics. And we both obviously have a passion for women's health and preventative medicine. And what you've already highlighted, your advocacy and your attention to breast cancer and cervical cancer screening awareness and accessibility is something that I have seen and have been in awe of for a very long time with you. And I appreciate your efforts because, as someone who reads mammography and someone who is continuously trying to educate her patients and the public on the benefits of cancer screening, it is important for me. And if confirmed as Surgeon General, one of my crucial, crucial messages is going to be that early detection matters. And with that is cancer screening. But as you are pointing out, the fact that I can say everything that I want, but access is equally as important as the information. And I am very much looking forward to working with the other leaders in HHS, because access and coverage are not under the purview of the Surgeon General. But I will take my knowledge as a physician and my experience as communicating and I will do what I can to get that message to patients. You also mentioned something else during our meeting that probably I'm the only person in this entire building that cares about as much, is the fact that, in Maine, that you are seeing areas where radiologists are scarce, radiologists like myself. And so, the people of Maine are not having access to the high-quality health care in the United States that I believe every American should have access to. And so, being creative with various ways on how we can mobilize various portions of health care is something I am very eager to work with. You had mentioned teleradiology, but being a part of the Commission Corps is something that I am incredibly excited about, if I am confirmed, and working with you and your staff to identify any potential health care deserts in Maine that we might be able to help serve.\u201d\n\nSenator Collins:\n\n\u201cThank you. I look forward to working with you on that.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-the-clarity-act", "Senator Collins\u2019 Statement on the CLARITY Act", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement regarding her vote against the motion to proceed to consideration of the CLARITY Act:\n\n\u201cThe CLARITY Act remains a moving target. It\u2019s now grown to more than 600 pages with provisions that need further study, such as whether it would cause community banks and credit unions to lose deposits that are the foundation for loans for mortgages, small businesses, and other family needs.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/house-unanimously-passes-senator-collins-bill-to-combat-lyme-and-other-tick-borne-diseases", "House Unanimously Passes Senator Collins\u2019 Bill to Combat Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the House of Representatives unanimously passed the bipartisan Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act. Senator Collins introduced the bill with Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), with Senator Angus King (I-ME) joining them as an original cosponsor. The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously last month, now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\nCases of Lyme disease have reached a new record level in Maine every year since 2022, with more than 4,200 cases reported statewide last year.\n\nThe Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act aims to confront this growing public health threat by reauthorizing federal initiatives and programs to combat tick-borne diseases first established through the original Kay Hagan Tick Act, which Senators Collins and Smith led to passage in 2019. The Senators named their bill in honor of the late Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC), who passed away in October of 2019 due to complications from the tick-borne disease known as the Powassan virus.\n\n\u201cWith Maine continuing to experience record levels of Lyme disease, we must continue working to address the growing threat posed by tick-borne diseases,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThe Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act will build on the progress we have made in combatting these diseases since the original law was enacted and ensure this important work can continue across the country. I am grateful to Senator Smith for her partnership in this effort and to our colleagues in both chambers for working with us to move this important legislation across the finish line, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.\u201d\n\nUsing a three-pronged approach, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act would:\n\nReauthorize Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases through Fiscal Year 2030. These Centers have led the scientific response against tick-borne diseases, which now make up approximately 75 percent of vector-borne diseases in the U.S. There are four centers: at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of California\u2013Davis, the University of Florida, and the University of Wisconsin\u2013Madison. The authorization for the program under the Kay Hagan Tick Act expired at the end of Fiscal Year 2025.\n\nReauthorize CDC Grants to State Health Departments. These grants help departments improve data collection and analysis, support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise awareness of vector-borne diseases. Reauthorizing these awards would help states continue building and maintaining a public health infrastructure for Lyme and other vector-borne diseases and amplify their initiatives through public-private partnerships. Since 2019, this funding has helped increase the number of health departments reporting tick-surveillance data from 6 to 44.\n\nRequire the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue implementing and updating, as appropriate, its National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People. This strategy has been integral in expanding research into tick-borne diseases, improving testing and diagnostics, and coordinating efforts across the federal government.\n\nSince the original Kay Hagan Tick Act was signed into law in 2019, resources provided through the law have supported efforts to combat tick-borne diseases in Maine, including research at the MaineHealth Institute for Research connected to a clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine. The law has also provided funding for Maine CDC\u2019s efforts to track and respond to vector-borne diseases.\n\nSenator Collins has also secured more than $6 million through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee for the University of Maine Tick Lab, which conducts tick surveillance and research and allows Mainers to submit ticks for pathogen testing.\n\nThe Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act has been endorsed by the University of Maine Tick Lab, the Center for Lyme Action, and the Entomological Society of America.\n\n\u201cThe growing burden of ticks and tick-borne diseases requires attention at the federal, state, and local levels. Reauthorization of the Kay Hagan TICK Act helps maintain a national strategy for addressing these diseases and supporting the science, coordination, and public health capacity needed to respond effectively. We appreciate Senator Collins\u2019 efforts to keep this issue before Congress and to recognize its importance to Maine and other heavily affected states,\u201d said Griffin Dill, Director of the University of Maine Tick Lab.\n\n\u201cThe reauthorization of the Kay Hagan Tick Act is a landmark victory for the millions of Americans impacted by tick-borne diseases and a testament to what is possible when policymakers, patients, families, and advocates come together to address a growing public health crisis. We are deeply grateful to the bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate who championed this legislation and helped bring it across the finish line, and to the thousands of advocates across the country whose voices, persistence, and grassroots action made this historic achievement possible. We look forward to seeing the Kay Hagan Tick Act signed into law and to building on this momentum to deliver the research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatments that patients and families so urgently need. This legislation is a critical investment in our nation\u2019s public health infrastructure and an important step toward finally turning the tide against these complex and devastating diseases,\u201d said Meghan Bradshaw, MPH, Executive Director of the Center for Lyme Action.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Entomological Society of America, we are extremely appreciative of the support shown in the House and Senate for the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act and we thank Senator Collins for her continued leadership on this issue. Reauthorizing the CDC Regional Centers of Excellence (COE) in Vector-Borne Diseases and reinforcing support for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grant program will help protect communities across the country from the growing challenges posed by diseases spread by ticks and mosquitoes through research, surveillance, management, and outreach,\u201d said Dr. Melissa Siebert, the 2026 President of the Entomological Society of America.\n\nThe complete text of the bill can be read here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-urge-senate-commerce-committee-to-promptly-consider-bill-to-extend-pause-on-right-whale-regulations", "Senators Collins, King Urge Senate Commerce Committee to Promptly Consider Bill to Extend Pause on Right Whale Regulations", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, respectively, urging them to advance the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act in their committee as soon as possible. The bipartisan legislation, which was introduced by U.S. Representatives Jared Golden (D-ME-02) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), recently passed the House of Representatives and would extend the current pause on new North Atlantic right whale regulations through 2035.\n\n\u201cThis pause is necessary to protect Maine\u2019s lobster fishery, which is essential to the state\u2019s economy and coastal communities. According to the Maine Lobstermen\u2019s Association, the lobster industry supports an estimated $2 billion in annual economic activity and more than 17,500 jobs,\u201d Senators Collins and King wrote.\n\n\u201cThe Maine Department of Marine Resources has used congressionally appropriated funds to establish a right whale research and monitoring program that is now in its third year of data collection,\u201d they continued. \u201cThe program includes aerial, vessel-based, and acoustic whale monitoring. This work is ongoing, and extending the pause would allow it to continue and provide scientists and regulators with better data to inform future management decisions.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is critical that any future regulatory actions appropriately balance protecting North Atlantic right whales with the economic and practical realities facing Maine\u2019s lobster industry. We ask that you work to advance H.R. 9436 as soon as possible,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nClick here to read their letter in full.\n\n+++\n\nIn 2022, Maine\u2019s lobster fishery faced sweeping new federal regulatory requirements that relied on flawed assumptions and an inadequate scientific record. The requirements threatened severe economic consequences for Maine\u2019s lobster industry without a sufficiently sound scientific basis. The Maine Delegation responded by securing a provision in the 2022 year-end appropriations law that prevented additional restrictions through December 31, 2028. Extending the regulatory pause through 2035 would allow this work to continue and help ensure that any future regulatory decisions are based on the best available science and a more accurate assessment of the risks posed by Maine\u2019s lobster fishery.\n\nSince the enactment of this pause, Senator Collins has secured more than $80 million in funding for North Atlantic right whale research and monitoring through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee. This research supports Maine\u2019s lobster industry by improving the quality of the data used to inform federal regulations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-army-cutting-vital-ukraine-drone-battalion-another-worrying-signal", "King, Colleagues: Army Cutting Vital Ukraine Drone Battalion \u201cAnother Worrying Signal\u201d", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of his colleagues in requesting a formal briefing on the Army\u2019s decision to eliminate a specialized drone battalion critical to U.S. interests in Europe and the defense of Ukraine. In a letter to departing Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and acting Army Chief of Staff General Christopher LaNeve, the lawmakers cited deep concerns about the elimination of the drone battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.\n\nJoining King on the letter are Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH-10).\n\nThe lawmakers wrote, \u201cWe write to request a briefing to better understand your decision to eliminate the drone battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. We are particularly keen to understand the data, analysis and process used to cancel this innovative unit established less than a year ago, and if this decision was based on Department of Defense leadership guidance or was an Army-internal decision.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have deep concerns that eliminating this specialized drone unit will limit our ability to learn from allies, particularly the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and hinder our efforts to modernize drone warfare at the speed necessary to compete on the modern battlefield. This specialized unit was a prudent response in a moment when the character of warfare is changing faster than a conventional formation\u2019s ability to adapt. [...] Both the Ukraine-Russia War and the ongoing conflict in Iran have demonstrated our need to make significant improvements in drone warfare\u2014lessons learned from our Ukrainian allies who have proven their ability to innovate and compete in this space,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nThey further explained, \u201cThe DOD\u2019s commitment to Ukraine and European security has been uneven and inconsistent\u2014 the reoccurring efforts to cut European force posture, the delayed spend plan of appropriated funds for aid to Ukraine, and the transfer of U.S. Army Europe funding to reimburse the Department of Homeland Security. Within this context, we are concerned that the elimination of the Unmanned Assault Battalion is yet another worrying signal of fledgling resolve in the European theater or of using the resources available out of Ukraine to the benefit of our own forces.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe respectfully request the Army brief us on how it intends to continue learning lessons on drone warfare from Ukraine in the absence of the Unmanned Assault Battalion. We request this briefing to occur no later than September 21st, 2026,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nSecretary Driscoll and General LaNeve:\n\nWe write to request a briefing to better understand your decision to eliminate the drone battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. We are particularly keen to understand the data, analysis and process used to cancel this innovative unit established less than a year ago, and if this decision was based on Department of Defense leadership guidance or was an Army-internal decision.\n\nWe have deep concerns that eliminating this specialized drone unit will limit our ability to learn from allies, particularly the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and hinder our efforts to modernize drone warfare at the speed necessary to compete on the modern battlefield. This specialized unit was a prudent response in a moment when the character of warfare is changing faster than a conventional formation\u2019s ability to adapt.\n\nBoth the Ukraine-Russia War and the ongoing conflict in Iran have demonstrated our need to make significant improvements in drone warfare\u2014lessons learned from our Ukrainian allies who have proven their ability to innovate and compete in this space. For over four years the Ukrainian Armed Forces have fought and adapted on the frontlines against one of the United States\u2019 most powerful near-peer adversaries. As a result, Ukrainian military technology -- particularly in drone warfare -- is battle tested and provides valuable insights to the U.S. military and defense industrial base. This drone battalion was ideally placed to capture these lessons and insights.\n\nThis is in part why we supported the Army\u2019s January 2026 establishment of a \u201ctactical unmanned systems battalion\u201d in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, to study the lessons from Ukraine and develop new concepts for fighting with drones and other unmanned systems. These six hundred soldiers specializing in drone warfare were designed to be a dedicated force, known as the \u201cUnmanned Assault Battalion,\u201d that could deploy anywhere drone expertise was required \u2013 a force multiplier across the entire formation.\n\nThe DOD\u2019s commitment to Ukraine and European security has been uneven and inconsistent\u2014 the reoccurring efforts to cut European force posture, the delayed spend plan of appropriated funds for aid to Ukraine, and the transfer of U.S. Army Europe funding to reimburse the Department of Homeland Security. Within this context, we are concerned that the elimination of the Unmanned Assault Battalion is yet another worrying signal of fledgling resolve in the European theater or of using the resources available out of Ukraine to the benefit of our own forces. We are supportive of the transformative initiatives the Army has taken under Secretary Driscoll\u2019s leadership in this area and would like to see that momentum maintained even as uniformed leadership changes.\n\nWe understand that, at its core, the 173rd is an infantry battalion and that the elimination of this unit is part of General LaNeve\u2019s \u201cback to basics\u201d approach from his message to the force published on August 18th. However, this message also says soldiers need to \u201clearn, innovate, and adapt faster\u201d to prepare for the next war, and eliminating this battalion, without announcing a new home for this specialized drone capability runs counter to that. It hurts our ability to acquire the critical knowledge and skills that can be gained from working with and learning from Ukrainian soldiers.\n\nWe respectfully request the Army brief us on how it intends to continue learning lessons on drone warfare from Ukraine in the absence of the Unmanned Assault Battalion. We request this briefing to occur no later than September 21st, 2026.\n\nThank you for your prompt attention.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-urge-senate-commerce-committee-to-promptly-consider-bill-to-extend-pause-on-right-whale-regulations", "Senators Collins, King Urge Senate Commerce Committee to Promptly Consider Bill to Extend Pause on Right Whale Regulations", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, respectively, urging them to advance the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act in their committee as soon as possible. The bipartisan legislation, which was introduced by U.S. Representatives Jared Golden (D-ME-02) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), recently passed the House of Representatives and would extend the current pause on new North Atlantic right whale regulations through 2035.\n\n\u201cThis pause is necessary to protect Maine\u2019s lobster fishery, which is essential to the state\u2019s economy and coastal communities. According to the Maine Lobstermen\u2019s Association, the lobster industry supports an estimated $2 billion in annual economic activity and more than 17,500 jobs,\u201d Senators Collins and King wrote.\n\n\u201cThe Maine Department of Marine Resources has used congressionally appropriated funds to establish a right whale research and monitoring program that is now in its third year of data collection,\u201d they continued. \u201cThe program includes aerial, vessel-based, and acoustic whale monitoring. This work is ongoing, and extending the pause would allow it to continue and provide scientists and regulators with better data to inform future management decisions.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is critical that any future regulatory actions appropriately balance protecting North Atlantic right whales with the economic and practical realities facing Maine\u2019s lobster industry. We ask that you work to advance H.R. 9436 as soon as possible,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nClick here to read their letter in full.\n\n+++\n\nIn 2022, Maine\u2019s lobster fishery faced sweeping new federal regulatory requirements that relied on flawed assumptions and an inadequate scientific record. The requirements threatened severe economic consequences for Maine\u2019s lobster industry without a sufficiently sound scientific basis. The Maine Delegation responded by securing a provision in the 2022 year-end appropriations law that prevented additional restrictions through December 31, 2028. Extending the regulatory pause through 2035 would allow this work to continue and help ensure that any future regulatory decisions are based on the best available science and a more accurate assessment of the risks posed by Maine\u2019s lobster fishery.\n\nSince the enactment of this pause, Senator Collins has secured more than $80 million in funding for North Atlantic right whale research and monitoring through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee. This research supports Maine\u2019s lobster industry by improving the quality of the data used to inform federal regulations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-honors-victims-and-first-responders-at-9/11-memorial-ceremony-in-augusta", "Senator Collins Honors Victims and First Responders at 9/11 Memorial Ceremony in Augusta", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nAUGUSTA, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks today at the Maine Firefighters Memorial in Augusta during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The ceremony was hosted by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1650 in partnership with the Augusta Fire Honor Guard.\n\n\u201cWe join together today to remember those whose lives were taken that terrible morning \u2013 nearly 3,000 innocent men, women, and children, workers doing their jobs, travelers embarking on trips,\u201d said Senator Collins during her remarks.\n\n\u201cMen and women like Robert and Jacqueline Norton of Lubec, Maine, who boarded Flight 11 to celebrate a son\u2019s wedding in California. At about the same time, Flight 175 took off with Robert Jalbert, a Massachusetts businessman and talented woodworker who grew up in Lewiston. Also on board was James Roux of Portland, on the first leg of a dream trip to climb the Himalayas. Stephen Ward of Gorham had just moved to New York City to work for Cantor Fitzgerald. He was among the 658 employees killed in the North Tower. Navy Commander Robert Schlegel of Gray was settling into his new assignment at the Pentagon. His office was believed to be the point of impact for Flight 77,\u201d she continued.\n\n\u201cOn the evening of that terrible day, members of Congress gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. With tears in our eyes and sorrow in our hearts, together we sang, \u2018God Bless America.\u2019 The emotions of shock, anger, and grief were joined by determination. That moment remains my most enduring memory. The passage of 25 years has not dimmed our memory or diminished our gratitude. As long as we keep the meaning of this day of remembrance in our hearts, we shall meet the challenges that lie ahead,\u201d Senator Collins concluded.\n\nFollowing the September 11 attacks, Senator Collins, then Chair of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, led the effort with the late Senator Joe Lieberman in authoring theIntelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which implemented the key recommendations of the independent 9/11 Commission. This comprehensive, bipartisan legislation was the most significant restructuring of the American intelligence community in more than half a century, dismantling the \u201cstovepipes\u201d that had left intelligence agencies holding separate pieces of information without a means to connect them. The law established the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center to close those information-sharing gaps, helping to prevent future terrorist attacks.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-the-town-of-newport", "Senator Collins Visits the Town of Newport", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "NEWPORT, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins was in Newport yesterday to visit the Newport Community Center, the Newport Fire Department, and the Newport branch of the Sebasticook Valley Federal Credit Union.\n\nClick HERE and HERE for individual photos.\n\nSenator Collins joined Newport Town Manager Dylan Lajoie to see the progress that has been made on renovating the Newport Community Center. Through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins secured $935,000 in the Fiscal Year 2023 funding bill to renovate the Center, including making improvements to handicap accessibility and creating new athletic fields. In addition to the Town of Newport, the Center will serve the nearby communities of Plymouth, Etna, Corinna, St. Albans, Palmyra, and Hartland.\n\nClick HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nSenator Collins then visited the Newport Fire Department to thank first responders for their work responding to fires and medical emergencies in Newport. During her visit, she toured the facility and spoke with Fire Chief Jeff Chretien, Fire Captain and EMT Amanda Chretien, and other members and supporters of the Department.\n\nClick HERE and HERE for individual photos.\n\nShe also stopped by Sebasticook Valley Credit Union\u2019s Newport branch to meet with staff and discuss issues affecting Maine\u2019s credit unions. Senator Collins\u2019 work with credit unions includes authoring the bipartisan Senior $afe Act, which was signed into law in 2018 and helps credit unions and other financial institutions identify and report suspected financial exploitation of seniors while protecting trained employees from liability for reports made in good faith and on a reasonable basis to the proper authorities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-demands-education-department-restore-critical-mental-health-funding-that-addresses-youth-needs", "King Demands Education Department Restore Critical Mental Health Funding That Addresses Youth Needs", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is urging the Department of Education to restore funding for critical school-based mental health programs and halt efforts to terminate grants that help schools hire and retain counselors, psychologists, social workers and other mental health professionals. In a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, King and his colleagues warned that the Department\u2019s actions are disrupting student access to care \u2013 including those handling difficult psychological issues \u2013 and creating uncertainty for schools and educators across the country.\n\nThe School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration (MHSP) grant programs were funded through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to address shortages of mental health professionals in schools, particularly in rural communities. In just one year, grantees reached nearly 775,000 K-12 students nationwide and trained and hired nearly 1,300 mental health professionals. Despite the programs\u2019 demonstrated results, the Department abruptly discontinued more than 200 multi-year grants in April 2025, claiming the programs did not align with the administration\u2019s policy priorities regarding diversity and equity initiatives. The cancellations forced some grantees to pause hiring and training, lay off school counselors, psychologists, and social workers, and stop funding scholarships used to recruit future mental health professionals.\n\n\u201cThe Department\u2019s recent actions create significant operational uncertainty for local school districts, interrupting student access to care and stalling the recruitment of future school-based mental health care professionals,\u201d King and his colleagues wrote. \u201cWe therefore demand that the Department disburse the funds grantees are contractually owed in a timely manner to ensure local school programs face no further disruption.\u201d\n\n\u201cDespite these grants\u2019 clear effectiveness, the Department sent boilerplate notices in April 2025 to 70 SBMH and 153 MHSP recipients claiming that these grantees did not adhere to the Trump Administration\u2019s priorities and policy preferences,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cThe notices failed to provide specific, individualized explanations for why the grants were abruptly discontinued.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe insist that the Department honor the statutory funding directives enacted by Congress, resolve the administrative barriers affecting the pipeline of mental health professionals in our nation\u2019s schools, and ensure that students have access to these crucial services,\u201d the Senators concluded. \u201cTo cut, delay, and otherwise obstruct these grants is not only unlawful, but also unconscionable in light of the mental health crisis facing our youth. It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say that young lives are at stake. Please step in to help.\u201d\n\nIn addition to King, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary McMahon:\n\nWe write to request immediate clarification regarding the Department of Education\u2019s (the Department) termination of $1 billion in School-Based Mental Health Services Grant (SBMH) and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant (MHSP) programs. The Department\u2019s recent actions create significant operational uncertainty for local school districts, interrupting student access to care and stalling the recruitment of future school-based mental health care professionals. These choices will increase the financial and administrative barriers to obtaining a quality education. We therefore demand that the Department disburse the funds grantees are contractually owed in a timely manner to ensure local school programs face no further disruption.\n\nFunded by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the SBMH and MHSP programs address the dire shortage of mental health service providers in our nation\u2019s schools. More than half of schools in the nation reported their ability to provide mental health services to students was limited in a significant way by inadequate funding, while 40 percent described insufficient access to mental health professionals as a barrier. SBMH grants help schools hire and retain counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals, specifically targeting areas with a demonstrated need, like rural and low-income communities. MHSP grants enable institutions of higher education and school districts to enter partnerships to recruit and train mental health professionals to work in schools.\n\nThe efficacy of SBMH and MHSP is supported by clear performance metrics. In just one year, grantees reached nearly 775,000 K-12 students nationwide, reduced absenteeism and behavioral issues, lowered suicide risk, trained and hired nearly 1,300 mental health professionals, and retained a vast majority of new and existing mental health professionals.\n\nThese programs fill crucial gaps in mental health care for youth in our nation\u2019s schools. A 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found that 40 percent of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless, an increase from 30 percent in 2013. Twenty-nine percent of high school students reported experiencing poor mental health and nine percent shared that they had attempted suicide.\n\nDespite these grants\u2019 clear effectiveness, the Department sent boilerplate notices in April 2025 to 70 SBMH and 153 MHSP recipients claiming that these grantees did not adhere to the Trump Administration\u2019s priorities and policy preferences. The notices failed to provide specific, individualized explanations for why the grants were abruptly discontinued.\n\nConsequently, grantees were forced to pause hiring and training and lay off school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. MHSP-supported graduate programs could also no longer fund the scholarships needed to recruit students.\n\nIn June 2025, 16 states, home to 140 of the canceled grants, sued the Department, arguing that the discontinuation of the grants violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). A district court subsequently issued a preliminary injunction against the discontinuation and then granted summary judgment and a permanent injunction to the plaintiff states, finding that the Department\u2019s actions were inconsistent with statutory requirements. The U.S. Court of Appeals for Ninth Circuit denied the Department's request to stay the permanent injunction.\n\nThe Department resumed 122 of the grants through June 30, 2026, imposing additional reporting requirements before deciding whether to release funding for the second half of the year. This process caused serious administrative uncertainty because grantee organizations could not reliably and effectively project budgets to determine if they would have the funds to hire and train mental health professionals. Some grantees were forced to lay off employees, exacerbating the challenges they face in addressing student mental health.\n\nFurthermore, the Administration has indicated plans to permanently discontinue these grants, raising serious concerns regarding compliance with standing federal permanent injunctions and the July 27, 2026, Temporary Restraining Order.\n\nThe Department\u2019s decision to withhold this funding from our nation\u2019s schools will reverberate as the new school year starts in the fall, and the harm will be exacerbated if the Department continues to disrupt or withhold SBMH and MHSP funding. Our nation\u2019s schools are already facing significant barriers to retaining mental health professionals, who serve as trusted adults for students and their parents.\n\nThese interruptions in student services disrupt the continuity of care. The Department\u2019s actions will also slow the recruitment of new mental health professionals, disincentivizing prospective counselors and therapists from serving in our nation\u2019s schools.\n\nIn light of the Department\u2019s actions, we request answers to the following questions by September 18, 2026:\n\nHow many grantees have received an additional six months of funding after June 30, 2026? Please provide a list containing the name, a description of the grant, the amount, and any associated reporting requirements for each grantee.\n\nWill the Department continue to impose similar requirements on these grantees for the remainder of their grant period?\n\nWhat objective evaluation criteria were used to determine program compliance? Please provide a written justification for each discontinued grant including grant-specific reasons that go beyond the generic justification currently offered in the notices.\n\nHow does the Department plan to address the interruptions and uncertainty for grantees caused by the discontinuations?\n\nWe insist that the Department honor the statutory funding directives enacted by Congress, resolve the administrative barriers affecting the pipeline of mental health professionals in our nation\u2019s schools, and ensure that students have access to these crucial services. To cut, delay, and otherwise obstruct these grants is not only unlawful, but also unconscionable in light of the mental health crisis facing our youth. It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say that young lives are at stake. Please step in to help.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-bipartisan-legislation-to-modernize-noaa-fishery-stock-counts", "King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Modernize NOAA Fishery Stock Counts", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring legislation to update the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) capacity to track and protect fisheries. The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would incorporate environmental DNA (eDNA) and other biomolecular tools into NOAA's fisheries science programs, bolstering their ability to conduct more accurate and cost-effective stock assessment surveys.\n\nToday, NOAA's stock assessment methods are limited due to their high operational costs and limited vessel availability. This in turn results in gaps in survey coverage. The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would integrate eDNA into these assessments, a method that is already widely used in the private sector to close these gaps by enabling sampling in remote or hazardous environments while reducing costs.\n\n\u201cFisheries have long been an essential part of Maine\u2019s economy and culture, and their enduring prominence depends upon their sustainability,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Fisheries Science Modernization Act would provide the NOAA with the advanced tools necessary to conduct more comprehensive surveys of our fisheries. By painting a more accurate picture of species health, we can be certain that our fisheries receive the attention they need, improving their sustainability and keeping them healthy for generations to come.\u201d\n\nKing is joined on the legislation by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).\n\nSenator King has long been a vocal advocate for the protections of Maine\u2019s fisheries and marine ecosystems. Earlier this year, he introduced the American Seafood Competitiveness Act, legislation which would expand access to U.S. Department of Agriculture loan and grant programs for commercial fishermen, seafood processors, and mariculture-related businesses. In 2025, Senator King introduced the Help Our Kelp Act, investing in the protection of the kelp forests which provide sustenance for Maine\u2019s fish. The year prior, in 2024, Senator King introduced the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act alongside his fellow members of the Maine delegation. This bill would gain congressional approval in December of 2024, leading to the construction of the Cherryfield Fishway, which allows anadromous fish such as herring, alewives, and the endangered Atlantic salmon to migrate upstream.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-road-salt-cement-exempt-from-us-tariffs", "Senator Collins Announces Road Salt, Cement Exempt from U.S. Tariffs", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "BANGOR, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement on the exemption of road salt and cement from the U.S. tariffs on Canada, following her focus on how crucial these two products are for the state of Maine in an August letter to the Administration:\n\n\u201cI appreciate the Administration\u2019s announcement that it will exempt road salt and cement from U.S. tariffs. In my communication with Ambassador Greer and Secretary Lutnick, I focused on road salt and cement as two products crucial to Maine that would be severely affected by these tariffs.\n\n\u201cI mentioned in a letter to the Administration that Frenchville, a small Maine town on the Canadian border, would incur $10,000 in extra costs for road salt, threatening the town\u2019s ability to provide municipal services. I also shared that I had heard from Maine ready-mix cement company owners, one of whom told me his company would pay $150,000 each month because of this tariff.\n\n\u201cThese additional exemptions follow Canada\u2019s announcement that it will carve out American seafood and fish products from its retaliatory tariff list, which would have caused significant harm to Maine\u2019s lobstermen.\n\n\u201cHowever, significant tariffs \u2013 including those on forest products \u2013 remain in effect and will lead to higher costs for Maine families and uncertainty for businesses. I urge the Administration to continue to work to deescalate this conflict and reach a trade resolution with our Canadian partners.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/-senator-collins-tours-mema-technical-education-center-in-brunswick", "Senator Collins Tours MEMA Technical Education Center in Brunswick", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nBRUNSWICK, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins toured the Maine Energy Marketers Association (MEMA) Technical Education Center in Brunswick, where she spoke with students, instructors, and MEMA members.\n\nThe nonprofit MEMA Technical Education Center is owned and operated by MEMA members and provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration training. Its curriculum is continually updated to reflect industry advancements and best practices. The National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) helps fund the Center. In 2018, Senator Collins worked with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to secure a 10-year reauthorization of NORA as part of the annual Farm Bill.\n\n\u201cThe hands-on education provided by the MEMA Technical Education Center prepares students for rewarding careers while helping Maine energy companies meet their workforce needs,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cIt was great speaking with the students and instructors and learning more about the important training offered at the Center. I thank MEMA for its commitment to technical education and for helping prepare the skilled workers who serve Maine homes and businesses.\u201d\n\nMEMA represents more than 300 members, including heating oil, propane, biofuel, and motor fuel providers, as well as convenience store owners.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hollow-promise_king-responds-to-news-that-ice-has-acquired-sufficient-body-worn-cameras", "\u201cHollow Promise\u201d \u2013 King Responds to News that ICE Has Acquired Sufficient Body-Worn Cameras", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today shared the following statement responding to news that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement now says it has acquired enough body-worn cameras to have all officers equipped with:\n\n\u201cThis update from ICE is a hollow promise since ICE announced weeks ago that they have no intention of making body-worn camera footage public if it does not show them in a favorable light. So unless and until there is a change of policy and leadership, today\u2019s news simply means that there is more expensively equipped lawlessness on our streets rather than responsible, legitimate law enforcement.\u201d\n\nSenator King has been outspoken and proactive in his efforts to negotiate necessary guardrails for ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the wake of unprofessional and unconstitutional behavior among those agencies. In January, King appeared on Face the Nation where he explained his Constitutional concerns over how ICE was operating in Maine, as well as possible paths forward for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package. In February, he released a statement on congressional efforts to curtail ICE\u2019s activities in Maine and across the country\u2014again calling for the implementation of guardrails. Weeks ago, he condemned the news that ICE was buying painful \u201cshock gloves\u201d for officers to stun and paralyze suspects they were seeking to detain.\n\nMost recently, King called for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Biddeford. Additionally, when given the chance to vote for a DHS budget that funded TSA, FEMA, CISA and the Coast Guard \u2013 holding ICE and CBP funding for bipartisan negotiations to include additional civilian protections \u2013 Senator King voted in favor of this approach all eleven times it was considered on the Senate floor.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-american-rheinmetall-in-biddeford", "Senator Collins Visits American Rheinmetall in Biddeford", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nBIDDEFORD, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks and toured the factory floor at American Rheinmetall, where she spoke with employees and company leadership. The company\u2019s Biddeford facility supports U.S. defense manufacturing and produces weapon-system components, military electronics, fire-control and vision systems, and other technologies.\n\nAmerican Rheinmetall recently received a contract from the Department of Defense (DOD) worth more than $20 million to produce MK-93 weapon mounts for the U.S. military. Senator Collins secured the necessary funding increase for DOD to purchase the mounts, allowing American Rheinmetall to compete for the contract and DOD to award it on schedule. The contract will help expand operations at American Rheinmetall\u2019s Biddeford manufacturing facility.\n\n\u201cFrom the founding of our nation to today, Maine manufacturers have been essential to keeping America strong and free. We are fortunate to have companies such as American Rheinmetall strengthening the arsenal of democracy, from advanced materials and precision manufacturing to autonomous systems. Your cutting-edge work provides specialized capabilities critical to military readiness and is an important part of the defense industrial base,\u201d said Senator Collins during her remarks. \u201cThe upgraded MK-93 mount you manufacture enhances the Army\u2019s standard mount for heavy machine guns and grenade launchers, boosting accuracy, stability, and ease of use. Just as important, the good example you set through your skill, dedication, and pride sends a powerful message to students seeking rewarding careers. The people of Maine are proud of our state\u2019s role in keeping our nation strong and free. You add to that legacy. Thank you and keep up the great work!\u201d\n\nAs Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has worked to strengthen Maine\u2019s defense industrial base. She led Senate passage of the 2026 Department of Defense funding bill, which supports defense employers and workers across Maine. To help prepare workers for careers in this sector, Senator Collins secured $1.5 million in 2023 and nearly $1 million in 2024 to expand welding training facilities and upgrade classroom technology at York County Community College.\n\nThese investments complement efforts by the Maine Defense Industry Alliance (MDIA)\u2014a statewide initiative bringing together defense employers, educational institutions, and government partners to expand Maine\u2019s defense workforce. The U.S. Navy awarded the MDIA $3.5 million to expand state-of-the-art welding and manufacturing instruction at York County Community College to support more than 200 additional trainees each year. The U.S. Small Business Administration also recently awarded the Maine Community College System, an MDIA partner, $5 million to provide manufacturing workforce training statewide. The funding will support training in areas including CNC precision machining, welding, maritime pipefitting, marine machine mechanics, quality assurance, and other advanced manufacturing skills.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-efforts-to-protect-military-brain-health-making-improvements-identifying-remaining-challenges", "King Efforts to Protect Military Brain Health Making Improvements, Identifying Remaining Challenges", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), member of the Senate Armed Service Committee (SASC) and the Senate Veteran\u2019s Affairs Committee (SVAC), is continuing to push for research into the traumatic effects of blast overpressure on servicemembers during and after their time in the military. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a study that reviews Department of Defense (DOD) actions to assess, monitor, and improve the health risks posed by blast overpressure on troops operating heavy weapons. The report was issued after Senator King worked to include it in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which codified his Blast Overpressure Safety Act.\n\nWhile the study concludes that \u201cDOD has taken critical steps to prevent and mitigate service members\u2019 exposures,\u201d it identifies root causes behind shortfalls in monitoring servicemembers\u2019 brain health \u2013 including the shortage of industrial hygienists who can conduct the sophisticated tests that can help unit commanders and medical personnel evaluate and track the injuries.\n\n\u201cFor years I have said that you cannot fix a problem unless you can measure it,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThanks to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) survey, we now have more information and metrics to track progress in addressing this invisible danger that has been lurking for years. We have seen the tragic consequences that result when these blast overpressure symptoms go unnoticed or untreated, and it\u2019s work like this that will make the difference, improve the health of our service members, and likely save lives.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the specific finding of an insufficient number of medically-trained staff, the report surveyed five factors that are playing a part in addressing and improving the mental health threat posed by blast overpressure. Awareness, military hierarchy, unit culture, access to care, and the nature of interactions with health care providers were all singled out by participants as playing a role in confronting this problem among America\u2019s military.\n\nFollowing the 2023 Lewiston shooting, Senator King has been working with his colleagues to increase mental health funding and address brain injuries. In a SASC hearing last year, King spoke with top DOD officials about the importance of addressing brain injuries in servicemember and veterans caused by repeated exposure to weapon blasts. In 2024, he wrote a letter to Department of Defense (DoD) urging the Department to expedite protection of servicemembers from weapon blasts and TBIs. Prior to that letter he urged leaders of the Appropriations Committee to support the strongest possible funding for the Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research program within the DoD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDRMP).\n\nSenator King introduced Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 to study impacts of lower-intensity weapon blasts on veteran mental health. The Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act codified the core provisions of the Blast Overpressure Safety Act introduced in 2025 by Senator Elizabeth Warren and co-sponsored by Senator King. The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act implemented additional monitoring and audit requirements. The Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that passed out of the Senate Armed Services Committee directs further oversight on implementing monitoring blast overpressure.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-tours-improvements-at-amhc-crisis-stabilization-unit-in-calais", "Senator Collins Tours Improvements at AMHC Crisis Stabilization Unit in Calais", "2026-08-30", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nCALAIS, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Aroostook Mental Health Service\u2019s (AMHC) newly renovated Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit in Calais yesterday. The unit provides 24/7 short-term residential crisis care, safety planning, and mental health stabilization.\n\nIn 2024, Senator Collins secured $4.3 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to support improvements at the facility, including a new four-season sensory space for children, as well as a soon-to-be-completed children\u2019s residential unit.\n\n\u201cThese improvements, combined with AMHC\u2019s expert and compassionate staff, will help individuals and families in Washington County during their time of need,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThat is why I worked hard to secure $4.3 million in federal funding to support these renovations and expand the availability of behavioral health services for children and adults at this location.\u201d\n\nAMHC has provided mental health, crisis, substance use treatment, and other behavioral health services to communities in northern and eastern Maine for more than 60 years.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-31T11:22:56Z", "2026-08-31T11:24:00Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-celebrates-completed-renovation-of-st-croix-apartments-in-calais", "Senator Collins Celebrates Completed Renovation of St. Croix Apartments in Calais", "2026-08-29", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nCALAIS, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the rehabilitation and renovation of the St. Croix Apartments in Calais. The project restored 26 units of affordable housing for low-income seniors.\n\nIn 2021, Senator Collins helped secure nearly $3.2 million for this project through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s (HUD) Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program. Then, in 2024, she secured an additional $1.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to further support the renovations.\n\n\u201cAffordable housing is critical to helping Maine seniors live comfortably and securely in their own communities,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cI am delighted to celebrate the completion of this project, and I was proud to help secure the federal funding that made it possible. The renovated St. Croix Apartments will provide seniors with safe and affordable homes close to the family, friends, and community they love.\u201d\n\nThe St. Croix Apartments lost HUD funding in 2016 due to the previous owner\u2019s failure to properly maintain the property, forcing the residents to find new homes. Senator Collins worked to ensure that those residents received relocation and continued rental assistance. Sunrise Opportunities later purchased the property and developed a plan to return it to affordable housing.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-30T10:18:21Z", "2026-08-30T10:19:31Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-warns-170-million-of-maine-goods-would-be-hit-by-tariffs-in-new-letter-to-administration", "Senator Collins Warns $170 Million of Maine Goods Would Be Hit by Tariffs in New Letter to Administration", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "BANGOR, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins wrote to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jameison Greer urging them to resume negotiations with Canada and to reach a fair trade agreement to prevent damaging tariffs from taking effect in order to protect Maine workers, employers, and communities from unnecessary economic harm.\n\nShe also shared new details quantifying the damage to Maine businesses if the tariffs continue as planned.\n\n\u201cThe new 50 percent tariffs imposed by the Administration on certain Canadian imports and the retaliatory tariffs announced by the Canadian government will lead to higher costs, risk, and uncertainty for Maine families, small and large businesses, and our communities,\u201d Senator Collins wrote. \u201cFor Mainers, commerce with Canada is a regular occurrence. Maine borders only one state, but shares a 611-mile border with Canada. The consequences of Canada\u2019s retaliatory tariffs are severe for Maine businesses, including our heritage industries.\u201d\n\n\u201cApproximately $170 million worth of goods would be subject to the announced Canadian tariffs, with roughly 62 percent coming from the forest products sector. Nearly 90 percent of Maine is covered by forest. This economic sector supports approximately 30,000 jobs and contributes more than $8 billion to the state\u2019s economy,\u201d she continued. \u201cTwo of Maine\u2019s paper mills, which are the largest employers in their towns, have already contacted me about the crushing increased costs that they will incur and the potential impact on their employment levels.\u201d\n\n\u201cI appreciate that the Canadian government has revised its initial announcement and removed seafood and fish products, including lobster, from its plan. This would have resulted in more than $200 million in tariffs on Maine\u2019s lobster industry, with impacts felt all throughout the supply chain,\u201d she added. \u201cThe tariffs will also impose significant hardships on Maine communities. For example, Maine municipalities rely on road salt from Canada to keep roads safe from snow and ice in the winter. Frenchville, a very small town on the Canadian border, will have to pay $10,000 more for road salt as a result of the new tariffs.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s economy is uniquely intertwined with Canada, and the consequences of an escalating trade dispute will be felt by American families, businesses, workers, and communities across the state. Thousands of American jobs and businesses across a variety of sectors are at risk. I urge the Administration to work urgently toward a negotiated resolution with Canada that removes the recently implemented American tariffs and prevents the Canadian tariffs from taking effect,\u201d Senator Collins concluded.\n\nThe complete text of the letter can be read here.\n\n+++\n\nSenator Collins has repeatedly opposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods and worked to protect Maine businesses and communities from their negative effects.\n\nEarlier this month, following the proposed 50 percent tariffs on more than 500 categories of Canadian imports, she wrote to the Commerce Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative urging the Administration to provide Maine businesses with greater clarity and notice regarding the tariffs and to consider their expected negative impact on Maine\u2019s economy before any potential implementation. She also met with Canadian Ambassador Mark Wiseman to discuss the tariffs and the broader economic relationship between the U.S. and Canada.\n\nIn April 2025, she delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of a resolution to end the emergency declaration being used to impose tariffs on Canadian goods; joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025, which would reassert Congress\u2019 constitutional authority over tariffs; and urged the Administration to exempt previously contracted fire truck orders from tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum that were expected to increase the cost of each truck by $80,000 to $90,000.\n\nIn July 2025, she joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, which would exempt U.S.-owned small businesses from tariffs on Canadian imports.\n\nIn December 2025, she requested targeted tariff relief for Maine\u2019s wild blueberry producers, including an exemption for specialized Canadian equipment used to harvest, process, and mow the crop.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-participates-in-christening-and-launch-of-umaines-3d-printed-vessel", "Senator Collins Participates in Christening and Launch of UMaine\u2019s 3D-Printed Vessel", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nHAMPDEN, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at the christening and launch of 3Dirigo-X, a 30-foot, 3D-printed vessel designed and manufactured by the University of Maine\u2019s Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC). Senator Collins joined University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy, ASCC Executive Director Dr. Habib Dagher, and Keith DeVries, Director of the Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology (MANTECH) Program, for the event at Hampden Marina. Following her remarks, Senator Collins helped christen the vessel and observed an in-water demonstration.\n\n3Dirigo-X is the first large 3D-printed vessel designed to operate at high speeds in the challenging environment of the Atlantic Ocean. Developed through a Department of Defense-funded Accelerated Rapid Prototyping (ARP) program, it is engineered to withstand the static, dynamic, impact, vibration, and hydrodynamic forces associated with operating at speeds approaching 40 knots. The vessel builds on the ASCC\u2019s 2019 production of 3Dirigo, a 25-foot patrol boat that was printed in 72 hours and set Guinness World Records for the world\u2019s largest 3D-printed boat and largest 3D-printed object.\n\n\u201cToday, we launch 3Dirigo-X, the first large 3D-printed vessel designed to operate at high speeds in the challenging environment of the Atlantic Ocean. 3Dirigo proved that a boat could be printed. 3Dirigo-X will demonstrate that a vessel produced by this technology can perform in the demanding conditions of the high seas,\u201d said Senator Collins during her remarks. \u201cThis significant advancement is the result of the expertise of researchers at UMaine\u2019s Advanced Structures and Composites Center. My first official visit as a new senator in 1997 was to Dr. Dagher\u2019s wood composites lab. Ever since, I have been proud to support the pioneering work done here by securing funding to support and strengthen its advanced manufacturing capabilities.\u201d\n\nSenator Collins has supported the ASCC since the beginning of her Senate service, and her first official visit as a senator in 1997 was to Dr. Habib Dagher\u2019s wood composites laboratory. In 2019, she helped establish a partnership between UMaine and Oak Ridge National Laboratory focused on large-scale 3D printing with forest materials and in the past five years alone, she has secured more than $115 million in federal appropriations to support the ASCC\u2019s Factory of the Future. This includes $35 million in fiscal year 2022 appropriations legislation to support the construction and advanced manufacturing capabilities of the ASCC\u2019s Factory of the Future, and an additional $33 million in fiscal year 2023 to expand the facility, including the addition of a second manufacturing bay.\n\nIn April 2024, the ASCC unveiled the world\u2019s largest polymer 3D printer, which is four times larger than its previous record-setting printer. The printer allows UMaine to accelerate and expand its research into applications including shipbuilding, affordable housing, and bridge construction.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-penquis-bright-beginnings-child-development-center", "Senator Collins Visits Penquis Bright Beginnings Child Development Center", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nBANGOR, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Penquis Bright Beginnings Child Development Center in Bangor to join Penquis President and CEO Kara Hay, Head Start and Childcare Director Mary Kay Hallett for a guided tour of the facility.\n\nThe center opened in May 2025 and includes 16 classrooms for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. Once fully operational, the center will serve nearly 200 children through its Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care programs.\n\n\u201cBright Beginnings is helping more children get a strong start in life while giving parents access to the reliable, high-quality child care they need,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cI have long been a strong supporter of Head Start, and as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue working to protect and strengthen this vital program for children and families in Maine and across the country.\u201d\n\nSenator Collins has long supported federal investments in Head Start, which provides early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family support services to children from low-income families. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins helped increase funding for Head Start nationally to $12.4 billion in the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bridge-dedication-in-honor-of-fallen-maine-state-police-detective", "Senator Collins Joins Bridge Dedication in Honor of Fallen Maine State Police Detective", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nMILLINOCKET, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins participated in a bridge dedication in Millinocket honoring fallen Maine State Police Detective Ben Campbell. Detective Campbell\u2019s widow, Hilary, and son, Everett, attended the ceremony, along with dozens of state, county, and local law enforcement officers and elected officials, local business owners, representatives of community organizations, and other supporters.\n\nDetective Campbell, who lived in Millinocket, was killed in 2019 when he stopped to help a stranded driver on I-95 and was struck by a wheel that detached from a passing logging truck. He was 31 years old.\n\n\u201cEvery law enforcement officer answers a call that sets them apart. Most of us wonder if we would have the courage to risk our lives in a moment of crisis to protect others. The men and women who wear the uniform demonstrate that courage every day,\u201d said Senator Collins during her remarks. \u201cDetective Campbell answered that call, and he served the people of Maine with commitment, compassion, and valor. The dedication of this new bridge in his name ensures that for generations to come, all who pass this way will be reminded of his dedication to others. Hilary and Everett, to you he was a loving husband and a devoted father. To all of us here today, he was a hero\u2014not because of the way his life ended, but because of the way he lived it.\u201d\n\nIn 2018, Senator Collins helped secure a $10,836,220 U.S. DOT Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to replace three structurally deficient bridges in Piscataquis and Penobscot counties, including the bridge dedicated today. Formerly known as the West Branch Bridge, the now Detective Ben Campbell Memorial Bridge carries Route 11 over the West Branch of the Penobscot River approximately four miles southwest of Millinocket.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-canada-exempting-american-seafood-from-retaliatory-tariffs", "Senator Collins\u2019 Statement on Canada Exempting American Seafood from Retaliatory Tariffs", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "BANGOR, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement after the Canadian government announced its decision to exempt American seafood from its list of planned retaliatory tariffs:\n\n\u201cI very much appreciate Canada\u2019s decision to remove seafood and fish products from its retaliatory tariff list. These tariffs would have caused tremendous harm to Maine\u2019s lobstermen, disrupting one of their most important markets during the fall fishing season.\n\n\u201cI urge the U.S. to respond to this show of good faith from our Canadian friends by returning to the negotiating table and working to amicably resolve this trade dispute.\n\n\u201cCanada is not China. Canada is one of our closest allies and largest trading partners. Our economies are inextricably linked, especially in the border regions. Continuing with these tariffs will harm Maine families, small businesses, municipalities, manufacturers, and farmers.\n\n\u201cWhen I spoke with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer this week, I stressed the negative impact U.S. tariffs will have on Maine \u2014 especially our forest, food, cement, road salt users and producers. Tariffs will also stress municipal budgets, as small towns in Maine rely on Canadian road salt and cannot afford to incur extra costs to keep their roads safe in the winter.\u201d\n\n+++\n\nSenator Collins has repeatedly opposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods and worked to protect Maine businesses and communities from their negative effects.\n\nEarlier this month, following the proposed 50 percent tariffs on more than 500 categories of Canadian imports, she wrote to the Commerce Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative urging the Administration to provide Maine businesses with greater clarity and notice regarding the tariffs and to consider their expected negative impact on Maine\u2019s economy before any potential implementation. She also met with Canadian Ambassador Mark Wiseman to discuss the tariffs and the broader economic relationship between the U.S. and Canada.\n\nIn April 2025, she delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of a resolution to end the emergency declaration being used to impose tariffs on Canadian goods; joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025, which would reassert Congress\u2019 constitutional authority over tariffs; and urged the Administration to exempt previously contracted fire truck orders from tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum that were expected to increase the cost of each truck by $80,000 to $90,000.\n\nIn July 2025, she joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, which would exempt U.S.-owned small businesses from tariffs on Canadian imports.\n\nIn December 2025, she requested targeted tariff relief for Maine\u2019s wild blueberry producers, including an exemption for specialized Canadian equipment used to harvest, process, and mow the crop.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-delivers-remarks-at-kenduskeag-library-truss-signing-ceremony", "Senator Collins Delivers Remarks at Kenduskeag Library Truss Signing Ceremony", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nKENDUSKEAG, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks today at a truss signing ceremony for the new Kenduskeag Public Library. She joined Kenduskeag Town Selectboard Chairwoman Sheila Doughty, Town Selectmen Mike Bishop and Chris Young, State Senator Stacey Guerin, Town Historian James Smith, library trustees and other project supporters at the event.\n\nThe town\u2019s current library does not have bathrooms or running water and has limited space for visitors. The new library will offer modern facilities and additional space for hosting community programs and events.\n\nSenator Collins secured $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending in 2024 to support the construction of the new library. This is part of more than $16 million she has secured in the past five years to upgrade nine libraries across the state.\n\n\u201cThis project holds a special place in my heart. One of my first jobs as a teenager was reading to children during Story Hour at the public library in my hometown of Caribou. I learned at that early age that encouraging children to read is an investment in their education and, ultimately, an investment in our country\u2019s future,\u201d said Senator Collins during her remarks. \u201cI was pleased to secure $1 million to help move this long-awaited project forward, and I congratulate the people of Kenduskeag on your vision and perseverance in seeing this project through. I look forward to our continued work together.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-and-colleagues-call-for-committee-hearing-on-needless-avoidable-shortages-and-strain-on-troops", "King and Colleagues Call for Committee Hearing on Needless, Avoidable Shortages and Strain on Troops", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), is calling for a public hearing to scrutinize the planning and management of extended military deployments in support of ongoing operations in Iran and the mounting toll on American servicemembers and their families. In a letter to SASC Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS), King and twelve of his colleagues pointed to recent reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and other ships, as well as extended deployments affecting soldiers, airmen, National Guardsmen, and reservists. The lawmakers are seeking testimony from Department of Defense leadership about how the military is supporting deployed servicemembers, planning relief rotations and addressing the effects of extended deployments on military readiness, recruitment, and retention.\n\nThe request follows reports that sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have faced deteriorating living conditions during an extended deployment, including food rationing, shortages of water and other basic supplies, broken facilities and serious mental health concerns. Most recently, Stars and Stripes reported that military families stationed in Bahrain are facing \u201cuncharted territory\u201d when it comes to a lack of planning and communications from the highest levels of government \u2013 from reasons for the war to sudden and chaotic evacuations.\n\n\u201cThe toll this unauthorized, disastrous war is taking on our troops is unconscionable,\u201d King and his colleagues wrote. \u201cTroops are suffering because of this Administration\u2019s inability to end this war or make the environment safe enough for our servicemembers to be delivered the food, medication or supplies they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cMilitary families and the American people deserve answers about when our heroes will come home and how DoD plans to restore military readiness that has been drained by this war,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cSupply shortages and unjustified extended deployments also have a real impact on our ability to recruit and retain our servicemembers.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Members of this Committee, we take seriously our responsibility to make sure the U.S. military is properly led, well-resourced, supported and able to conduct its missions,\u201d the lawmakers concluded. \u201cWe believe it is critical that we conduct public oversight to ensure that whenever we ask the military to answer the Nation\u2019s call, we will have their backs \u2014 not leave them stranded with no support.\u201d\n\nKing is joined on the letter by Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Chairman Wicker:\n\nWe request that you convene a public Armed Services Committee hearing with Department of Defense (DoD) leadership regarding the poor planning and mismanagement of extended deployments to support Iran operations and the impact on our troops. Recent reports of sailors suffering from severe mental health issues amid deteriorating conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln have only added to a disturbing pattern of failures to adequately plan and support our troops, who have been away from their families indefinitely as the Iran War drags on.\n\nOn August 11, Military Times reported that multiple sailors on board the USS Abraham Lincoln currently supporting Iran operations attempted to jump overboard, a heartbreaking decision in effort to escape the mental health toll of an extended deployment that was planned to end in May but is now at 9 months and counting. Horrifying messages from military families described other poor conditions onboard the Lincoln, including food rationing, rotten meals, shortages of supplies like water and soap, overflowing toilets, broken facilities and disrupted mail delivery. It took nine months for the Navy to relieve the Lincoln with the USS George Washington, after conditions had reached such severity that military families directly confronted the Acting Secretary of the Navy. This has revealed the real impact of unplanned deployment extensions on our ability to maintain and logistically support our ships in a contested environment.\n\nThis is not the first time during this war that we have seen the consequences of extended deployments onboard an aircraft carrier or even other ships. Sailors on the USS Ford experienced hundreds of broken toilets and significant damage from a non-combat fire that injured multiple sailors and affected 100 sleeping berths and forced it to redirect to Greece for emergency repair. After this emergency repair, the Ford was again sent back to the Red Sea to support Iran operations \u2013 eventually completing 11 months of deployment, even though the Navy tries to limit deployments to seven months. Military families of servicemembers on board the multiple ships as part of the Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) in the region have reported emotional and financial strain from the unplanned extensions, struggling to balance work and childcare and caught in limbo with disrupted plans every time orders are extended.\n\nBoth the Lincoln and the Ford Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) were redirected from their original missions to support President Trump\u2019s illegal wars of choice. The Lincoln originally deployed in November to conduct routine patrols in the Indo-Pacific, but was redirected to the Middle East in January to support the start of the Iran operations. The Ford ultimately served a whopping 11 months at sea \u2013 redirected three times from an original mission to support deterrence in Europe, to operations in the Caribbean Sea and against Venezuela, to Iran operations. This Administration has failed to explain why it has insisted on stretching our sailors in this way without adequate planning \u2013 let alone for unauthorized wars of choice.\n\nThe strain on our troops is not confined to the Navy. In fact, our offices and press have heard story after story of Soldiers and Airmen, including National Guardsmen and Reservists, seeing their deployments extended with uncertainty about when they will be relieved by other units and can return home to their families. Bases in the Middle East originally designed to support a specific footprint have been stretched to support a much larger scale of units now stationed there \u2013 and conditions are deteriorating as too many people meet too little space and supplies.\n\nThe toll this illegal, disastrous war is taking on our troops is unconscionable. Troops are suffering because of this Administration\u2019s inability to end this war or make the environment safe enough for our servicemembers to be delivered the food, medication or supplies they need.\n\nAll these developments strongly indicate a systemic failure of planning and adaptation by the Secretary of Defense and senior DoD leaders. It is appalling that in month seven of the Iran War, DoD still continues to fail to anticipate and plan for the second-order consequences of the President\u2019s choices to continue this war with no end.\n\nMilitary families and the American people deserve answers about when our heroes will come home and how DoD plans to restore military readiness that has been drained by this war. Supply shortages and unjustified extended deployments also have a real impact on our ability to recruit and retain our servicemembers \u2013 why would anyone sign up to fight when they fear they will be exploited and left without supplies, recourse or support? Not only do we owe our troops the bare minimum respect and support they deserve, but it is a recruitment and retention imperative.\n\nThe stakes couldn\u2019t be higher. The longer this Administration fails to articulate a plan to end this disastrous war, the longer our brave servicemembers will pay the price.\n\nWe request a public hearing to help Congress and the public better understand how we got here and how the Department will ensure it never happens again. We call on the Department to explain to Congress, military families and the American people how it assesses and justifies the readiness impacts of these extended deployments, how it plans for relief rotations and what accounts for the systemic failures to provide troops with the support they need to do the mission the President has illegally asked of them. Importantly, the Department must justify and detail exactly how it plans to sustain our troops in this war indefinitely -- as the President\u2019s negotiations continue to fail.\n\nAs Members of this Committee, we take seriously our responsibility to make sure the U.S. military is properly led, well-resourced, supported and able to conduct its missions. We believe it is critical that we conduct public oversight to ensure that whenever we ask the military to answer the Nation\u2019s call, we will have their backs \u2013 not leave them stranded with no support. For these reasons, we urge the Committee to convene a hearing at the earliest opportunity to examine these issues directly with DoD leaders.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-us-canada-trade-war-could-devastate-lobster-industry", "King: US-Canada Trade War Could \u201cDevastate\u201d Lobster Industry", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement after the United States and Canada recently escalated the year-long trade war with retaliatory tariffs that will have major impacts on Maine people and businesses:\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s lobstermen are some of the most determined and resilient members of Maine\u2019s workforce. For months, these hardworking men and women have faced challenges across the board, from the increased cost of living at home to the spike in diesel fuel prices at work. Now this new escalation of the trade war with Canada \u2013 \u2018the dumbest trade war\u2019 according to the Wall Street Journal \u2013 is going to make things even worse\u2019\n\n\u201cThe Canadians just announced that they will begin retaliatory tariffs against American products as a response to the White House\u2019s rash actions \u2013 including a 25% tariff on lobsters beginning in September. In the fall, almost half of the Maine lobster catch goes to Canada for processing which means that they will be tariffed on their way from the United States to Canada which could cut off the Canadian market with devastating consequences. And if the President\u2019s misguided trade war further escalates, the processed lobsters could be taxed again when they are shipped back from Canada to the United States. If the President doesn\u2019t relent, this hammer blow to hardworking Maine people would devastate the Maine lobster industry and leave many of these hardworking people literally high and dry.\n\n\u201cMaine people are not interested in personal, retaliatory politics. They are focused on the high cost of goods here at home. The majority party must listen to the industry leaders here in Maine, put pressure on the President, and move forward with an economic policy that works for us and not against us.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-pushing-state-department-to-fix-college-student-visa-delays", "King Pushing State Department to Fix College Student Visa Delays", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) joined 29 of his Senate colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of State to address delays in processing student and exchange visitor visas ahead of the upcoming academic year. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators are calling for the timely processing of F, M, and J visas as well as for answers about the lack of available visa appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates.\n\nThe Senators highlight the vital contributions international students make to universities and communities nationwide, including expanding opportunities for American students, generating economic activity, strengthening the U.S. workforce, and building international partnerships.\n\n\u201cInternational students are critical to the success of our universities, including contributing nearly $43 billion annually to local communities and supporting more than 355,000 American jobs during the 2024-2025 academic year. Even though international students make up only six percent of the total higher education population, their enrollment creates opportunities for American students,\u201d write the Senators. \u201cInternational students also improve our national security by fostering global relationships, cross cultural understanding, and long-lasting diplomatic ties. These benefits are at risk if visa processing delays persist.\u201d\n\nIn addition to King, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Rubio,\n\nWe write to express our concerns regarding the ongoing unavailability of visa appointments during the peak visa application season for students and scholars seeking to enter the U.S. in time for the start of classes and the academic year. We urge the State Department to ensure timely processing of F, M, and J student and exchange visitor nonimmigrant visas, consistent with the approach taken by administrations of both parties in the past, and to implement other measures to avoid diminishing U.S. competitiveness. Specifically, we are hearing from constituents and stakeholders that no timely visa appointments are available for students at some embassies and consulates. This only exacerbates uncertainty about whether students\u2019 visas will be processed in time for them to travel to the United States to begin their studies.\n\nThese challenges come at a time when major academic institutions need skilled, international talent to begin their semesters. Without a fix, the repercussions will be felt across the academic and skilled-technical talent pipeline.\n\nInternational students are critical to the success of our universities, including contributing nearly $43 billion annually to local communities and supporting more than 355,000 American jobs during the 2024-2025 academic year. Even though international students make up only six percent of the total higher education population, their enrollment creates opportunities for American students. For every additional international undergraduate enrolled at a U.S. public university, two additional in-state freshman students can enroll. Most international students pay out-of state tuition, injecting vital revenue into our colleges and universities and helping keep costs down for domestic students. International students also improve our national security by fostering global relationships, cross cultural understanding, and long-lasting diplomatic ties. These benefits are at risk if visa processing delays persist.\n\nThe case-by-case nature of availability for access to expedited appointments or National Interest Exception requests is neither efficient nor sustainable. Instead of diverting already limited personnel resources, the State Department should ensure that its consular sections restore priority to interview, adjudicate, and process student visas in time for the upcoming school year.\n\nIn addition to the above, we urge the State Department to extend interview waivers for vetted returning student applicants; ensure adequate staffing for timely visa vetting and processing; and meaningfully engage with stakeholders to promote greater transparency.\n\nInternational students bolster the American workforce, drive innovation, and better position our country to maintain its competitive edge. Therefore, we request a written response answering these questions within 30 days:\n\nWhat resources has the Department devoted to processing the backlogs and streamlining processing of F, J, and M visas?\n\nHave consular process priorities changed since the spring and summer of 2025? What visa interview categories are currently prioritized by the Bureau of Consular Affairs and where do student visas fall within that list? Provide the list of visa interview prioritization.\n\nWhat guidance has been sent to embassies and consulates regarding prioritization or deprioritization of student and exchange visitor visa processing? Provide a copy of all guidance regarding the prioritizing or deprioritizing of student and exchange visitor visas since August 2025 until the present day.\n\nHow are interview slots being allocated at embassies and consulates and where do student and exchange visitor visa appointments fit within that allocation?\n\nHow often are consular post websites and the main State Department website updated for relevant and current information regarding current U.S. consulate operations including visa appointment availability and approximate processing times?\n\nWhen will you resume publicly posting monthly, accurate visa issuance data by category?\n\nWill the Department commit to implementing regular, ongoing outreach and collaboration with stakeholders and relevant agencies about the student and exchange visitor visa process and ensure the timely processing of F, J, and M visas?\n\nHow do you ensure that embassies and consulates are accurately and timely informed of any regulatory or policy changes regarding student and exchange visitor visas?\n\nWhat are the average processing times for F, M, and J visas at the top five locations processing these visas from September 2025 to date, disaggregated by month?\n\nLast year, the Department of State announced new vetting, including online presence vetting, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classification.\n\na. What resources has the Department of State devoted to these new vetting procedures?\n\nb. In developing these new vetting procedures, what steps has your Department taken to ensure our national security interests of welcoming bona fide international students in our communities can still be achieved through timely processing of F, J, and M visas.\n\nc. How many applications have been refused pursuant to the new enhanced vetting procedures? Please disaggregate these numbers by the basis for refusal.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-the-breakdown-of-us-canada-trade-negotiations", "Senator Collins\u2019 Statement on the Breakdown of U.S.-Canada Trade Negotiations", "2026-08-22", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "BANGOR, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement regarding the breakdown of trade negotiations between the United States and Canada:\n\n\u201cThe on-again/off-again trade talks between the U.S. and Canada lead to higher costs, risk, and uncertainty for Maine businesses. If the Administration proceeds with these tariffs, they will increase costs for Maine families, as most businesses will have no choice but to pass on the tariffs to their customers through higher prices.\n\n\u201cMaine imports approximately $2 billion in non-petroleum products from Canada each year. Ever since the tariffs were first announced, I have heard from many businesses, farmers, and lobstermen concerned about the cost of navigating the tariffs, the lack of domestic supply chains, and the likely imposition of retaliatory tariffs by Canada.\n\n\u201cI urge both sides to return to the negotiating table. The Administration must consider the negative impact tariffs would have on Maine businesses, communities, and families and work to reach a fair agreement with our Canadian neighbors.\u201d\n\n+++\n\nSenator Collins has repeatedly opposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods and worked to protect Maine businesses and communities from their negative effects.\n\nEarlier this month, following the proposed 50 percent tariffs on more than 500 categories of Canadian imports, she wrote to the Commerce Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative urging the Administration to provide Maine businesses with greater clarity and notice regarding the tariffs and to consider their expected negative impact on Maine\u2019s economy before any potential implementation. She also met with Canadian Ambassador Mark Wiseman to discuss the tariffs and the broader economic relationship between the U.S. and Canada.\n\nIn April 2025, she delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of a resolution to end the emergency declaration being used to impose tariffs on Canadian goods; joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025, which would reassert Congress\u2019 constitutional authority over tariffs; and urged the Administration to exempt previously contracted fire truck orders from tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum that were expected to increase the cost of each truck by $80,000 to $90,000.\n\nIn July 2025, she joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, which would exempt U.S.-owned small businesses from tariffs on Canadian imports.\n\nIn December 2025, she requested targeted tariff relief for Maine\u2019s wild blueberry producers, including an exemption for specialized Canadian equipment used to harvest, process, and mow the crop.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-23T05:27:15Z", "2026-08-23T05:29:02Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-walks-in-madison-anson-days-parade", "Senator Collins Walks in Madison-Anson Days Parade", "2026-08-22", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nANSON, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins walked in the Madison-Anson Days Parade. The parade is one of the signature events of Madison-Anson Days, a decades-old summer tradition featuring several days of entertainment, family activities, and community events.\n\n\u201cI had so much fun taking part in the Madison-Anson Days Parade today and visiting with so many Mainers who lined the route,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cFrom one side of the Kennebec River to the other, the parade was a wonderful celebration of the shared community pride that connects these two great Maine towns.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-23T05:27:15Z", "2026-08-23T05:29:02Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/administration-releases-more-than-5-million-for-maine-weatherization-and-energy-aid-following-request-from-senators-collins-and-reed", "Administration Releases More Than $5 Million for Maine Weatherization and Energy Aid Following Request from Senators Collins and Reed", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released $5,056,574 for the State of Maine through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), the Weatherization Readiness Fund (WRF), and the State Energy Program (SEP).\n\nThis action follows a request sent earlier this year by Senators Collins and Jack Reed (D-RI) along with 17 of their Senate colleagues, including Senator Angus King, urging the Administration to release the delayed funding for these programs. At the time, the Department had not issued the annual guidance states needed to apply for the funds, threatening disruptions to these programs.\n\nSpecifically, the State of Maine will receive $4,094,134 through the WAP, $397,790 through the WRF, and $564,650 through the SEP. Nationwide, DOE released $328 million for the WAP, $30 million for the WRF, and $64 million for the SEP.\n\n\u201cThese programs enjoy broad bipartisan support and play important roles in lowering energy bills and improving the safety and efficiency of homes in Maine,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cFollowing our bipartisan request, I am pleased that the Administration has released these funds so that state agencies can continue putting them to work in communities throughout our state.\u201d\n\nBenefits of the WAP, SEP, and WRF include:\n\nThroughout the program\u2019s history, the Weatherization Assistance Program has helped more than 7.4 million low-income households reduce their energy bills, saving each household an average of $372 annually. The program supports 8,500 jobs and provides weatherization services to approximately 32,000 homes nationwide each year.\n\nThe State Energy Program combines the scientific and economic expertise of the Department of Energy with locally led planning to improve the energy efficiency of hospitals and schools, support energy projects, and encourage private-sector innovation. An Oak Ridge National Laboratory study found that every federal dollar invested in the SEP leverages more than $10 for energy-related economic development and produces more than $7 in energy savings.\n\nThe Weatherization Readiness Fund supports structural and health and safety repairs that must be completed before otherwise income-eligible homes can receive weatherization services. A 2025 national study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy found that weatherization services were initially deferred for nearly one in five income-eligible households because their homes needed repairs.\n\nEarlier this year, Senators Collins and Reed were presented with the John D. Dingell Award by the Edison Electric Institute and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for their steadfast support of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other federal efforts to lower energy costs for Americans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-umaine-will-begin-construction-of-3d-printed-neighborhood-for-homeless-individuals", "Senator Collins Announces UMaine Will Begin Construction of 3D-Printed Neighborhood for Homeless Individuals", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "BANGOR, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the University of Maine\u2019s (UMaine) Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) has received its $4 million Congressionally Directed Spending award. This funding, which Senator Collins secured through fiscal year 2024 appropriations legislation, will support the design and production of a neighborhood of nine 3D-printed homes for homeless individuals in the greater Bangor area, in partnership with Penquis.\n\nThe housing development will be the first in Maine constructed from wood sawmill waste and could serve as a model for other communities seeking to address homelessness. The homes will be designed to withstand Maine winters, as the 600-square-foot prototype on UMaine\u2019s campus in Orono has done since it was unveiled in 2022 at an event attended by Senator Collins.\n\n\u201cThis first-of-its-kind neighborhood is an exciting next step for UMaine\u2019s BioHome3D technology and builds on years of groundbreaking research,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cI have long been proud to support the pioneering work of Dr. Habib Dagher and his team at the Advanced Structures and Composites Center, including by securing funding for its advanced manufacturing capabilities and for this project. By transforming recycled forest products into durable, energy-efficient homes, this innovative technology could help address our housing shortage, strengthen Maine\u2019s forest products industry, and create new jobs across our state.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday marks a major milestone for UMaine\u2019s BioHome3D technology. Thanks to Senator Collins\u2019 support, we received the funding to produce nine 3D-printed homes for the unhoused in Bangor. We are collaborating with Penquis on the world\u2019s first project that uses wood residuals from Maine\u2019s sawmills to print the homes,\u201d said Dr. Habib Dagher, Executive Director of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine.\n\nSenator Collins has supported the ASCC since the beginning of her Senate service, and her first official visit as a senator in 1997 was to Dr. Habib Dagher\u2019s wood composites laboratory. In 2019, she helped establish a partnership between UMaine and Oak Ridge National Laboratory focused on large-scale 3D printing with forest materials. She then secured $35 million in fiscal year 2022 appropriations legislation to support the construction and advanced manufacturing capabilities of the ASCC\u2019s Factory of the Future. In fiscal year 2023, she secured an additional $33 million to expand the facility, including the addition of a second manufacturing bay focused on developing 3D-printed affordable housing. In fiscal year 2024, she secured $4 million specifically to advance the production and commercialization of BioHome3D technology.\n\nIn April 2024, the ASCC unveiled the world\u2019s largest polymer 3D printer, which is four times larger than its previous record-setting printer. The printer allows UMaine to accelerate and expand its research into applications including affordable housing, national defense, and bridge construction.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-tours-historic-wildcat-lobster-pound-in-st-george", "Senator Collins Tours Historic Wildcat Lobster Pound in St. George", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nST. GEORGE, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins toured the historic Wildcat Lobster Pound in St. George and met with leaders of the Maine Coast Fishermen\u2019s Association (MCFA) and local fishermen. During her visit, they discussed plans to restore the property and create new opportunities for Maine\u2019s seafood businesses through fisheries research, workforce training, and educational programs.\n\nSenator Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, submitted a Fiscal Year 2027 Congressionally Directed Spending request for $1 million to support the MCFA\u2019s redevelopment of the Wildcat Lobster Pound. If enacted, the funding would be used to repair the pound\u2019s dam and doors, which regulate water levels, and rebuild the adjacent wharf and gangway.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s working waterfronts are essential to our state\u2019s economy, heritage, and coastal communities. The Maine Coast Fishermen\u2019s Association has developed an exciting vision to restore the historic Wildcat Lobster Pound and transform it into a hub supporting fishermen and small seafood businesses,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cI am working hard to secure $1 million through my role on the Appropriations Committee so that this unique Maine property can once again serve our seafood industry for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe property\u2019s dock and wharves were structurally damaged during the severe winter storms of 2024. The MCFA plans to restore the site as a hub where fishermen, researchers, aquaculture producers, and small seafood businesses operators can collaborate to address the evolving needs of Maine\u2019s fishing industry. The property was donated to the MCFA in October 2025 by St. George resident Barbara Wagner in honor of her late husband, John Wagner.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-energy-storage-project-in-lincoln-with-energy-secretary-wright", "Senator Collins Visits Energy Storage Project in Lincoln with Energy Secretary Wright", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE for a full-resolution image.\n\nLINCOLN, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and local leaders in Lincoln to learn more about Form Energy\u2019s plans for a new energy storage facility at the Lincoln Technology Park. The facility will be located at the site of the former Lincoln Paper & Tissue Mill.\n\nThe project received a nearly $150 million federal award through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, which was established by the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. Senator Collins was a member of the group of ten senators who negotiated that law.\n\n\u201cRevitalizing Maine\u2019s former mill sites is a priority of mine, and this project holds tremendous promise for Lincoln and the surrounding communities,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cIt will not only breathe new life into a vacant former mill site, but also create new jobs and strengthen energy security and grid reliability throughout central Maine. Once completed, the facility, the first of its kind in New England, will be able to provide enough electricity to power approximately 65,000 homes for 100 hours. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am committed to advocating for Maine to remain at the forefront of energy innovation and resilience.\u201d\n\nSenator Collins secured a total of $7.5 million through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee for infrastructure improvements and continued redevelopment at the Lincoln Technology Park. This includes $3.5 million in fiscal year 2024 and $4 million in fiscal year 2026.", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-demand-answers-from-pentagon-about-safety-and-well-being-of-uss-abraham-lincoln-crew", "King, Colleagues Demand Answers from Pentagon About \u201cSafety and Well-Being\u201d of USS Abraham Lincoln Crew", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined several of his colleagues in demanding answers about deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, King and his colleagues raised concerns about the Department of Defense\u2019s failure to provide a clear timeline for the crew\u2019s return and pressed the Department for information about the health, safety and well-being of the sailors and Marines aboard the ship. The letter follows reports that the aircraft carrier\u2019s crew has endured food and water shortages, broken plumbing, and serious mental health crises during its record-setting deployment.\n\n\u201cWe write regarding the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and mounting evidence that conditions aboard the carrier have deteriorated to the point that the safety and wellbeing of its crew could be compromised,\u201d the Senators began. \u201cThese are deeply troubling reports, and the American people deserve honest answers. The USS Lincoln departed San Diego on November 21, 2025. The ship has now been deployed for more than 250 days, including over 200 consecutive days without a port call, setting a modern-day record for continuous time at sea for a U.S. aircraft carrier.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur sailors and Marines signed up to serve and to be treated with respect. They did not sign up to be kept at sea indefinitely with no announced return date and, by multiple accounts, without reliable food, hot water, or working plumbing. That is not how we treat the men and women we ask to carry out this mission,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\n\u201cAs the Secretary of Defense, you are accountable to the men and women who serve our nation. It is time for you to demonstrate leadership, rather than peddle excuses. The servicemembers we send into harm\u2019s way deserve nothing less,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nKing is joined on the letter by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth(D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Chris Coons (D-DE).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth,\n\nWe write regarding the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and mounting evidence that conditions aboard the carrier have deteriorated to the point that the safety and wellbeing of its crew could be compromised. These are deeply troubling reports, and the American people deserve honest answers.\n\nThe USS Lincoln departed San Diego on November 21, 2025. The ship has now been deployed for more than 250 days, including over 200 consecutive days without a port call, setting a modern-day record for continuous time at sea for a U.S. aircraft carrier. Family members of the sailors and Marines serving aboard have received urgent messages describing conditions that should alarm you, and everyone serving in a position of leadership at the Pentagon, to include concerns about exhaustion, food and water shortages, and mental health crises serious enough that multiple sailors reportedly attempted to go overboard.\n\nIn response to these reports, you publicly stated that the conditions aboard the carrier have been \u201ccompletely misrepresented.\u201d Even more galling, when asked by reporters about the conditions on the Lincoln, President Trump dismissed the concerns of the families and stated that the Lincoln had not been deployed \u201cnearly long enough.\u201d\n\nOur sailors and Marines signed up to serve and to be treated with respect. They did not sign up to be kept at sea indefinitely with no announced return date and, by multiple accounts, without reliable food, hot water, or working plumbing. That is not how we treat the men and women we ask to carry out this mission.\n\nThis situation was preventable, and the conditions aboard the Lincoln are nearly identical to the issues faced by the USS Ford when it conducted an extended deployment that ended earlier this year. The USS Lincoln was redirected to the Middle East as the war with Iran began and has remained there as that war has dragged on with no clear endpoint. This is a symptom of poor planning by both you and the President and exacerbated by the deeply unsound decision to start a war with Iran. Open-ended deployments driven by an open-ended war have real consequences for our servicemembers, and we are seeing those consequences now.\n\nRecent press reports indicate that the USS George Washington will be deployed to the Middle East to relieve the USS AbrahamLincoln. While that is welcome news, the Department\u2019s mismanagement of carrier deployments also means that the U.S. will not have an aircraft carrier in the Pacific for the foreseeable future. However, ensuring the USS Lincoln returns to port takes precedence, and it is incumbent on the Department to inform Congress, and the families, on the plan and timeline to get the crew home. Denial and defensiveness are not acceptable responses. Congress and these families need accountability.\n\nGiven the seriousness of these reports, we request written answers to the following:\n\nWhat is the current timeline for the USS Lincoln\u2019s relief and return to homeport, and what specific operational requirements are driving continued extensions of this deployment?\n\nWas the crew informed that the deployment could be extended indefinitely? Have any members of the crew been changed out since the beginning of this deployment, and if so, how many?\n\nHas there been any degradation in the operational capability of the USS Lincoln or her airwing?\n\nWhat mental health resources are being provided to the crew?\n\nHave there been any suicides aboard the ship during this deployment? How many instances of detected suicidal ideation or attempted self-harm, including attempts to go overboard, has the Department recorded?\n\nWhat other medical resources are available aboard the ship, and are resources sufficient to meet the crew\u2019s needs given the length of this deployment?\n\nWhat chaplain resources are available to the crew, and have they been adequate to the scale of need aboard the ship?\n\nWhat is the current state of good order and discipline aboard the USS Lincoln?\n\nWhat is the hygiene and healthy food situation on board, including the status of reported plumbing failures, water contamination, and food shortages?\n\nWhat is the extent of illness or injury aboard the ship, including full details of the reported man-overboard incident and any other similar incidents?\n\nWhat is the state of the families of the sailors and Marines aboard the USS Lincoln? What resources are being provided to them, and are they being kept informed on a regular basis about the status of the deployment and their loved ones\u2019 wellbeing?\n\nWill the Department authorize a bipartisan congressional delegation to visit the Lincoln to conduct firsthand oversight of conditions aboard the ship?\n\nAs the Secretary of Defense, you are accountable to the men and women who serve our nation. It is time for you to demonstrate leadership, rather than peddle excuses. The servicemembers we send into harm\u2019s way deserve nothing less.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-walks-in-acadian-festival-parade", "Senator Collins Walks in Acadian Festival Parade", "2026-08-16", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nMADAWASKA, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined local leaders, first responders, and community organizations at the 48th annual Acadian Festival Parade in Madawaska. The parade is a signature event of the Madawaska Acadian Festival, the largest celebration of Acadian culture in the northeastern United States.\n\n\u201cThe annual Acadian Festival is a wonderful Madawaska tradition celebrating the proud heritage and culture of Maine\u2019s Acadian people,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cI had a great time walking in today\u2019s parade through downtown Madawaska and taking part in one of northern Maine\u2019s great summer celebrations.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-i-oppose-the-administrations-strategy-that-would-allow-the-first-ships-in-new-classes-of-us-navy-vessels-to-be-built-overseas", "Senator Collins: I Oppose the Administration\u2019s Strategy that Would Allow the First Ships in New Classes of U.S. Navy Vessels to be Built Overseas", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "BANGOR, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement in opposition to the Administration\u2019s new directive on Navy shipbuilding:\n\n\u201cI strongly support the goal of strengthening our Navy and expanding America\u2019s shipbuilding capacity. It is a national security imperative and has been a priority of mine throughout my Senate service.\n\n\u201cI oppose, however, the Administration\u2019s strategy that would allow the first ships in new classes of U.S. Navy vessels to be built overseas, placing foreign companies in a leading role in shaping the design, technology, and production of our future fleet. Although subsequent ships would be built in the United States, they would be based on designs and constructed using shipbuilding techniques licensed by foreign companies.\n\n\u201cFor generations in the great state of Maine, the highly skilled men and women at Bath Iron Works have built some of the finest warships in the world. We should be investing in their experience, expanding the capacity of American shipyards, and ensuring that American workers remain at the center of our efforts to rebuild the Navy.\n\n\u201cCooperation with our allies can bring valuable investment and new technologies to the United States. But those partnerships should result in more ships being built in America by American workers, not fewer. I will continue to fight to secure federal funding for Bath Iron Works, strengthen America\u2019s maritime industrial base, and stand behind the thousands of men and women whose work is essential to our national security.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-speaks-at-groundbreaking-for-american-steel-and-aluminum-manufacturing-facility-expansion-in-saco", "Senator Collins Speaks at Groundbreaking for American Steel & Aluminum Manufacturing Facility Expansion in Saco", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nSACO, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for American Steel & Aluminum\u2019s (ASA) planned expansion of its manufacturing facility in Saco. Prior to the ceremony, Senator Collins toured the existing facility, spoke with employees, and met with company leadership.\n\n\u201cASA has long been a job-creating engine in southern Maine, and its investment in expanding its Saco facility is welcome news for the city and our state,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThis project reflects the company\u2019s confidence in Maine\u2019s skilled workforce and will support good jobs, strengthen our manufacturing sector and defense industrial base, and contribute to continued economic growth in the region. I congratulate the entire ASA team on reaching this exciting milestone.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis groundbreaking is for a 12,000-square-foot addition. It\u2019s going to bring many new jobs\u2014about 30 new jobs are going to be on board here in the next couple of months. Our cutting capacity will double. [...] It\u2019s a commitment to the Maine workforce, the Maine industrial base, the maritime industrial base. Senator Collins, with your position on Appropriations in Washington\u2014I go down once a year\u2014I will say: You\u2019re one of the only ones that actually comes in and speaks to us. Usually, we\u2019re speaking to one of their underlings. So, we really appreciate that you take this so seriously and really understand the importance,\u201d said Sam Blatchford, CEO of ASA, at the event.\n\n\u201cSenator Collins, you\u2019ve been supporting manufacturing and American Steel and Aluminum for the last 30 years. It\u2019s really made a big difference. We used to be a general line steel service center and really didn\u2019t differentiate ourselves from some of the competition. We\u2019ve become an advanced manufacturing facility here. We\u2019re buying specialized equipment, we\u2019re adding value, we\u2019re contributing to national security. These are great jobs and this is just the start,\u201d said Scott Jones, president and CEO of ASA\u2019s parent company, Nova Steel, at the event.\n\nASA operates facilities in Saco, South Portland, Auburn, and West Bath and provides heavy-plate metal manufacturing and processing services to customers across a range of industries, including Maine\u2019s shipbuilding industry.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-secure-48-million-for-new-downeaster-train-station-in-portland", "Collins, King Secure $48 Million for New Downeaster Train Station in Portland", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King (I-ME) today announced that they have secured federal funding to support the construction of a new Amtrak Downeaster station in Portland. More specifically, the $48,136,000 investment will help relocate Portland\u2019s existing station, improving the speed and reliability of passenger rail service in Maine.\n\n\u201cThe Downeaster is an essential transportation link for the people of Maine, connecting communities, supporting our economy, and providing a reliable alternative to getting in the car or boarding an airplane,\u201d said Maine\u2019s Senators. \u201cRelocating Portland\u2019s station to the mainline is a commonsense investment that will mean shorter trips, fewer delays, and better connections for passengers traveling throughout Maine and New England. We\u2019re proud to have helped secure this federal funding to help move this long-awaited project forward and strengthen passenger rail service for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe project has been selected to advance through final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) will provide a 20 percent non-federal match. Amtrak\u2019s Downeaster provides daily passenger rail service connecting Brunswick and communities throughout southern Maine with Boston, Massachusetts. The service is managed by NNEPRA and serves communities including Freeport, Portland, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, and Wells.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-secure-48-million-for-new-downeaster-train-station-in-portland", "Senators Collins, King Secure $48 Million for New Downeaster Train Station in Portland", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King today announced that they have secured federal funding to support the construction of a new Amtrak Downeaster station in Portland. More specifically, the $48,136,000 investment will help relocate Portland\u2019s existing station, improving the speed and reliability of passenger rail service in Maine.\n\n\u201cThe Downeaster is an essential transportation link for the people of Maine, connecting communities, supporting our economy, and providing a reliable alternative to getting in the car or boarding an airplane,\u201d said Maine\u2019s Senators. \u201cRelocating Portland\u2019s station to the mainline is a commonsense investment that will mean shorter trips, fewer delays, and better connections for passengers traveling throughout Maine and New England. We\u2019re proud to have helped secure this federal funding to help move this long-awaited project forward and strengthen passenger rail service for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe project has been selected to advance through final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) will provide a 20 percent non-federal match. Amtrak\u2019s Downeaster provides daily passenger rail service connecting Brunswick and communities throughout southern Maine with Boston, Massachusetts. The service is managed by NNEPRA and serves communities including Freeport, Portland, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, and Wells.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-releases-statement-on-reported-use-of-shock-gloves-by-ice", "King Releases Statement on Reported Use of Shock Gloves by ICE", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement in response to reporting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is spending $20 million dollars on \u201cshock gloves\u201d in its nationwide patrols.\n\n\u201cAt a time when the majority of Americans believe that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been irresponsible in its use of force, the new ICE announcement touting shock gloves begs a crucial question: is ICE genuinely focused on de-escalation or, what appears more likely, intimidation of anyone critical of their often unlawful conduct?\n\n\u201cWhen two separate and entirely partisan funding bills passed Congress in the last year, they directed $75 billion in taxpayer dollars to ICE\u2019s rogue agenda, and even forward-funded the agency into 2029 in order to make congressional oversight all but impossible.\n\n\u201cWe have already seen the tragic and deadly results of this agency operating without any real accountability. Innocent civilians have been killed, body-worn camera footage \u2013 when there are body cameras actually available and activated \u2013 is only released when it benefits the agency, and Americans nationwide are feeling more and more like they are living in a police state occupied by masked agents.\n\n\u201cAnd rather than have an open, good-faith conversation over methods and tactics, ICE is now investing millions (through what is reportedly a no-bid contract) in shock gloves that can do serious harm with little or no transparency or accountability.\n\n\u201cI urge every single one of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up, assert our constitutional authority, and demand immediate answers from ICE on their hiring practices, training, and tactics.\n\n\u201cI never thought I would see the day when masked and armed men in unmarked cars would be roaming the streets and neighborhoods of America, acting in utter disregard of the legal constraints that are basic to our freedoms.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s becoming more and more clear that the stated basis for this gross violation of our rights\u2014that they are ridding our communities of \u201cthe worst of the worst\u201d\u2014is a lie, and the real purpose is to establish a national police force to do the bidding of a corrupt and lawless administration.\n\n\u201cIt is past time for Congress to do its duty and, for once, put country ahead of party.\u201d\n\nSenator King has been outspoken and proactive in his efforts to negotiate necessary guardrails for ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the wake of unprofessional and unconstitutional behavior among those agencies. In January, King appeared on Face the Nation where he explained his Constitutional concerns over how ICE was operating in Maine, as well as possible paths forward for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package. In February, he released a statement on congressional efforts to curtail ICE\u2019s activities in Maine and across the country\u2014again calling for the implementation of guardrails.\n\nMost recently, King called for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Biddeford. Additionally, when given the chance to vote for a DHS budget that funded TSA, FEMA, CISA and the Coast Guard \u2013 holding ICE and CBP funding for bipartisan negotiations to include additional civilian protections \u2013 Senator King voted in favor of this approach all eleven times it was considered on the Senate floor.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-14T06:13:05Z", "2026-08-14T06:14:08Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-more-than-600000-in-innovation-awards-to-support-maines-forest-economy", "Senators Collins, King Announce More than $600,000 in Innovation Awards to Support Maine\u2019s Forest Economy", "2026-08-12", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) applauded a U.S. Forest Service announcement that Avedis Zildjian Co., ND Paper, Inc., and Robbins Lumber East Baldwin, LLC. have been awarded a combined $622,999 through the U.S. Forest Service\u2019s Wood Innovation Grant Program. These grants will support environmentally sustainable innovation and help expand markets for Maine\u2019s forest products.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s forest products industry is a vital part of our state\u2019s economy, and it is critical that this industry has the tools it needs to adapt to changing markets,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cThis funding will help ND Paper, Robbins Lumber, and Avedis Zildjian as they develop cutting-edge products, creating new opportunities for the forest products industry while supporting the rural communities that rely on it. We remain committed to supporting efforts to help Maine\u2019s forest economy continue to grow and thrive.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the funding has been allocated as follows:\n\nND Paper, Inc. \u2013 $300,000 to upgrade wood processing equipment to enhance production by 15,000 tons annually while supporting low-value wood markets.\n\nRobbins Lumber East Baldwin, LLC. \u2013 $235,714 to upgrade sawmill processing technologies to improve operational efficiencies while supporting active forest management.\n\nAvedis Zildjian Co. \u2013 $87,285 to develop a wood energy system at a manufacturing facility to increase low-value wood markets by 1,500 tons annually.\n\n+++\n\nSenators Collins and King have both long been supporters of Maine\u2019s forest economy.\n\nSince 2024, Senator Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has secured $24 million through appropriations legislation to mitigate the spread of spruce budworm in Northern Maine. She has also ensured the inclusion of a provision recognizing biomass as carbon neutral across federal agencies in appropriations legislation for more than a decade. Last month, she announced a $20 million award to Maine\u2019s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub\u2014a forest economy development initiative led by the University of Maine.\n\nSenator King is seen as a national leader in efforts to support Maine\u2019s forest products industry. King previously introduced the bipartisan Future Logging Careers Act to help train the next generation of Maine loggers and the bipartisan Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act to improve forest health and support Maine\u2019s rural economy. He also introduced legislation to establish a \u201cFuture of Forests\u201d panel tasked with making recommendations to secure the health of America\u2019s forests. Senators King was key in establishing the Forest Opportunity Roadmap Maine (FOR/ME) Initiative, a participant-led initiative that is helping to diversify the state\u2019s wood products businesses, attract investments, support research and development, and develop greater economic prosperity for rural communities impacted by mill closures.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-13T06:17:16Z", "2026-08-13T06:18:13Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-new-mainecare-fraud-reporting-highlights-need-for-senator-collins-medicare-home-health-reform-bill", "ICYMI: New MaineCare Fraud Reporting Highlights Need for Senator Collins\u2019 Medicare Home Health Reform Bill", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 As troubling new reports detail alleged fraud, abuse, and inadequate oversight involving MaineCare providers, U.S. Senator Susan Collins has introduced the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act to combat similar vulnerabilities in the Medicare home health program by stopping fraudulent payments before they are made.\n\nThe legislation would provide the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with stronger tools to identify high-risk providers, authorize additional funding to investigate and prosecute organized schemes, and protect legitimate home health agencies from the financial consequences of payments made to fraudulent providers. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has joined the legislation as a cosponsor.\n\n\u201cThe recent allegations involving MaineCare providers are deeply troubling. While these cases in Maine involve Medicaid providers and my legislation focuses on the Medicare home health care program, they demonstrate the broader problem of unchecked health care fraud,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cFraud harms patients, wastes taxpayer dollars, and can reduce payments to honest providers, jeopardizing care for patients. My legislation would give CMS stronger tools to stop fraud before payments are made, provide additional resources to investigate and prosecute organized schemes, and help ensure that legitimate home health agencies are fairly reimbursed for the important care they provide.\u201d\n\nRecent reporting by Maine news outlets has brought renewed attention to fraud and inadequate oversight of MaineCare, Maine\u2019s Medicaid program:\n\nMaine Public reported last week that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) suspended payments to five MaineCare providers based on \u201ccredible allegations of fraud.\u201d The state also terminated two providers because of serious health and safety risks and disenrolled 28 providers that had not submitted a claim within one year of enrollment. DHHS initially did not identify the providers but released their names following a request from Maine Public.\n\nThe Maine Wire reported this week that a state termination letter found that Paradise Residential Services \u201cfailed to ensure individuals are protected from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.\u201d The letter cited residents repeatedly being left without staff, a lack of food, unsanitary conditions, inadequate employee training and background checks, and failures involving medication management. The outlet reported that Paradise received nearly $25 million through MaineCare before the state terminated its provider agreement in March.\n\nSenator Collins\u2019 legislation would require additional identity verification before home health agencies can enroll in Medicare, impose heightened screening on agencies presenting an extreme risk of fraud, increase surveys and unannounced site visits, strengthen oversight of accrediting organizations, and authorize additional funding to investigate and prosecute organized home health fraud schemes.\n\nThe bill would also direct CMS to reset home health agency payment rates to account for fraud in the system and changes in the use of home health care since COVID-19. This would help prevent previous fraudulent spending from distorting reimbursements for legitimate providers nationwide, including the small and rural agencies serving many Maine seniors.\n\nClick here to read Senator Collins\u2019 original bill announcement and here to read the complete text of the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-12T06:18:38Z", "2026-08-12T06:20:33Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-more-than-55-million-for-improvements-at-bangor-international-airport", "Senator Collins Announces More Than $5.5 Million for Improvements at Bangor International Airport", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that Bangor International Airport will receive a total of $5,534,795 to support important infrastructure improvements. The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA) Fiscal Year 2026 Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) Program, which Senator Collins helped to establish.\n\n\u201cEnsuring that transportation needs across the State of Maine are met has been a priority of mine throughout my Senate service,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cA key focus of our negotiations over the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021 was addressing outdated infrastructure at our nation\u2019s airports. That is why we included historic investments in airport grant programs so that municipal, regional, and international airports and jetports across the country can provide safer and more efficient travel. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue working to ensure that federal investments benefit our state\u2019s transportation network.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe $5.5 million Airport Infrastructure Grant for the rehabilitation of Taxiway A and Taxiway M is an important investment in the long-term safety and reliability of Bangor International Airport's airfield. This project will help ensure the airfield continues to safely and efficiently support commercial, cargo, military, and general aviation operations for years to come. We are grateful to Senator Susan Collins for her continued leadership and support of Bangor International Airport. Her commitment to investing in aviation infrastructure has helped airports across Maine make meaningful improvements that strengthen safety, support economic development, and better serve the traveling public,\u201d said Bangor International Airport Director Jose Saavedra.\n\nSpecifically, the funding from the AIG has been allocated as follows:\n\nBangor International Airport (BGR) \u2013 $5,534,795 to reconstruct 5,724 feet of Taxiway A pavement that has reached the end of its useful life and rehabilitate 900 feet of Taxiway M.\n\nSince joining the Appropriations Committee in 2009, Senator Collins has helped to secure more than $1 billion in competitive transportation grants for the State of Maine. In the past five years, Senator Collins has also secured more than $25 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for improvement projects at airports in Presque Isle, Fryeburg, Machias, and Brunswick.\n\nIn addition to her work as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins was one of 10 senators who negotiated the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, which provided $15 billion for federal airport infrastructure grant programs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-12T06:18:38Z", "2026-08-12T06:20:33Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-bipartisan-bill-to-allow-early-childhood-educators-to-deduct-out-of-pocket-purchases-of-classroom-supplies-passes-senate", "Senator Collins\u2019 Bipartisan Bill to Allow Early Childhood Educators to Deduct Out-of-Pocket Purchases of Classroom Supplies Passes Senate", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the Senate passed the Supporting Early-Childhood Educators\u2019 Deductions (SEED) Act by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 86 to 11. This legislation, which Senator Collins introduced last year with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), would ensure that early childhood educators can claim the same federal tax credit for out-of-pocket classroom supply purchases that is currently available to K-12 teachers. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.\n\n\u201cIn Maine and across the country, we are fortunate to have so many dedicated educators who work hard to ensure that every child has a learning environment that is safe, welcoming, and enriching,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cDespite tight personal budgets, it is truly remarkable how often teachers use money out of their own pockets to purchase classroom supplies for their students. As the author of the original tax credit for K-12 teachers, I am delighted to help lead this effort to expand this benefit to pre-K educators. The Senate\u2019s passage of this commonsense bill brings us one step closer to providing early childhood educators with tax relief for the resources they invest in our next generation.\u201d\n\nResearch shows that educators spend an average of $895 annually on supplies for their students. Yet, under current law, early childhood educators cannot deduct those out-of-pocket expenses.\n\nThe SEED Act would correct this and extend tax relief to the teachers working with America\u2019s youngest learners. The bill would expand the above-the-line $300 educator expense deduction, established for K-12 teachers in 2002, to also include pre-K and early childhood educators. This deduction helps offset hundreds of dollars teachers spend out of their own pockets each year on classroom supplies, books, and other learning materials.\n\nThe SEED Act is supported by a broad coalition of education and child advocacy organizations, including the Center for American Progress, the American Federation of Teachers, Teach For America, the First Five Years Fund, and Trying Together.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-introduces-bill-to-combat-medicare-home-health-fraud", "Senator Collins Introduces Bill to Combat Medicare Home Health Fraud", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins introduced legislation today to protect the Medicare home health program from fraud and strengthen access to these important services for the Americans who need them. The Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act would give the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) additional tools to prevent and detect fraud while helping ensure that legitimate home health agencies are fairly reimbursed for the care they provide.\n\n\u201cWhen billions of dollars are improperly siphoned from the Medicare home health program, this can undermine the integrity of the payment system used to reimburse legitimate providers and threaten care for the seniors who depend on it. I have long been a strong supporter of home health care, which allows millions of Americans to remain in the comfort, security, and privacy of their own homes, while helping to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and nursing home admissions,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cFraudulent home health providers harm beneficiaries and diminish reimbursements for honest agencies that are already confronting workforce shortages and rising costs. My legislation would give CMS stronger tools to stop fraud before payments are made and prevent fraudulent spending from distorting the data used to reimburse honest agencies for medically necessary care.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe National Alliance for Care at Home applauds the introduction of the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act by Senator Susan Collins. This bill corrects longstanding flaws in home health reimbursement and takes a meaningful step toward a home health benefit that is stable and built for how care is delivered today. We strongly support the bill for its payment reforms, as well as measures to protect patients and preserve the integrity of the Medicare home health benefit. Consistent with our community\u2019s commitment to provide the highest-quality, person-centered care in the home, we support the bill\u2019s goal to strengthen access while focusing on targeted oversight, protecting the legitimate providers who serve patients every day. We look forward to working with Senator Collins, a long-time champion of care at home, to build support for this important and timely legislation,\u201d said Jennifer Sheets, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home.\n\n\u201cSenator Collins, a longtime champion of Medicare home health, appreciates the shortcomings of current Medicare home health payment approaches, as this bill demonstrates. We are particularly encouraged by its recognition that the standard prospective payment amount requires recalibration. We appreciate Senator Collins\u2019 leadership in presenting a much-needed reset of the Medicare home health payment to promote its stability and ensure access. In addition, we also share the desire to address fraud in the home health setting. LeadingAge has long expressed concern about the disproportionate increase in home health providers in Los Angeles County. This bill\u2019s oversight provisions are reasonable, appropriately targeted policies that would help maintain the benefit\u2019s integrity. Those, along with the important proposed payment changes, will help to ensure support for legitimate providers\u2014including our nonprofit and mission-driven members. We look forward to working with Senator Collins to advance this legislation,\u201d said Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO of LeadingAge.\n\n\u201cVNS Health applauds Senator Susan Collins for introducing the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act. For more than 130 years, VNS Health has cared for vulnerable New Yorkers in their homes and communities. From rural Maine to urban New York and across the country, older adults face a common and growing challenge: obtaining the skilled care they need to remain safe and independent at home. Yet each year, hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries are unable to access that care. Senator Collins' legislation offers a thoughtful path forward by addressing years of unjustified payment cuts that have harmed seniors' access to care. It also includes sensible and effective program integrity measures that target bad actors without penalizing responsible providers, undermining access, or jeopardizing the agencies that care for patients with the greatest needs. We urge Congress to advance this important legislation,\u201d said Dan Lowenstein, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for VNS Health.\n\nDespite the rapid aging of the U.S. population, the number of traditional Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health services declined from approximately 3.3 million in 2019 to 2.7 million in 2024. Excluding California, more than 500 Medicare-certified home health agencies closed during that period, a decline of five percent. In California, however, the number of Medicare-certified home health agencies nearly doubled, with almost all of the growth occurring in Los Angeles County.\n\nAlthough Los Angeles County is home to only two percent of the nation\u2019s Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, it accounts for nine percent of Medicare fee-for-service home health expenditures nationwide. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the California State Auditor have raised significant concern about fraud and abuse associated with the unusual concentration of home health agencies and spending in the county.\n\nThe consequences of this questionable concentration of agencies and spending can extend far beyond Los Angeles County. Fraudulent or improper payments can distort the data underlying Medicare\u2019s home health payment system and diminish reimbursements for legitimate providers nationwide. This can fall especially hard on small, rural agencies like those serving many Maine seniors, which already confront workforce shortages, rising costs, and the challenges of providing care across large geographic areas.\n\nSpecifically, the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act would:\n\nRequire that the identity of home health administrators be verified before agencies are enrolled and authorized to provide services;\n\nRequire proof of liability insurance for agencies that exhibit high risk of fraud;\n\nProvide the Administrator with the authority to determine the factors that indicate that an agency presents an extreme risk of fraud, and to impose heightened screening requirements on such agencies;\n\nRequire much more frequent surveys of newly enrolled home health agencies, agencies that undergo ownership changes, and agencies that reactivate their billing privileges;\n\nIncrease inspections of home health agencies that fail to submit quality data to CMS, or that engage in practices that are aberrant or signal fraudulent behavior;\n\nIncrease financial penalties for failing to report quality data;\n\nRequire accrediting agencies that work with CMS to meet or exceed CMS standards;\n\nRequire CMS training of home health surveyors for accreditation purposes;\n\nEstablish ongoing CMS oversight of accrediting organizations and provide CMS with authority to terminate deficient accreditors;\n\nDirect CMS to \u201creset\u201d home health agency payment rates to adjust for fraud in the system as well as changes in the use of home health care since Covid;\n\nAuthorize funding for CMS and federal law enforcement agencies for the investigation and prosecution of organized home health fraud schemes;\n\nAuthorize funding for CMS and its state agency partners to conduct accelerated surveys, enrollment validation, unannounced site visits, and operational verification of home health agencies; and\n\nProvide CMS with rulemaking authority to carry out its provisions and require it to report to Congress.\n\nClick here to read the complete text of the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-russia-and-iran-sanctions-bill", "Senator Collins\u2019 Statement on Senate Passage of Bipartisan Russia & Iran Sanctions Bill", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement today after the Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act by a vote of 86 to 11:\n\n\u201cAs an original cosponsor of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, I was pleased to see the bill pass the Senate today with overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle.\n\n\u201cVladimir Putin launched an unprovoked war four and a half years ago, and Ukraine has resisted his aggression valiantly and with inspiring resolve. Russia\u2019s energy sales and shadow fleet are the engine of its war machine, and sanctioning them will help bring this brutal conflict to a quicker end.\n\n\u201cThis bill also extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, which is critical to denying Iran resources for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and its support for terrorism through its proxies. For nearly 47 years, the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have threatened both the United States and broader stability in the Middle East.\n\n\u201cMy friend and colleague Lindsey Graham worked tirelessly to advance this bill. The passage of this legislation named in his honor is a fitting tribute to his legacy of leadership on these critical issues.\n\n\u201cThis bill is important not only for America\u2019s national security, but also for the security of our European and Middle Eastern allies. I applaud my colleagues for joining together to make clear the Senate\u2019s determination to stand with our allies and to hold Russia and Iran accountable.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-federal-worker-access-to-health-care-advances-out-of-committee-by-voice-vote", "Senator Collins\u2019 Bipartisan Bill to Expand Federal Worker Access to Health Care Advances Out of Committee by Voice Vote", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the bipartisan Improving Access to Workers\u2019 Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act that she introduced with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) advanced out of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs by voice vote. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration by the full body.\n\n\u201cIn a large, rural state like Maine, finding access to health care close to home can be a challenge. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants help to fill in this gap by providing quality medical services to local communities,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cBy allowing injured federal workers to be treated by these professionals, our bipartisan bill would help prevent the need for long and difficult travel, reduce wait times for care, and improve employees\u2019 overall health and wellbeing. Today\u2019s committee approval of this bill reflects broad bipartisan agreement that this unnecessary barrier to care should be removed.\u201d\n\nCurrently, federal employees\u2014including the more than 12,000 working in Maine\u2014can select a Physician Assistant (PA) or a Nurse Practitioner (NP) as their primary health care provider within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. However, the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) permits only a physician to make diagnoses, certify injuries and the extent of a disability, and oversee a federal employee\u2019s treatment and care when they are injured on the job.\n\nThe Improving Access to Workers\u2019 Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act would amend FECA to allow PAs and NPs to certify injuries and oversee treatment for federal workers with injuries or illnesses that occurred on the job, when doing so is consistent with the scope of their practice under state law.\n\nThe bill has been endorsed by dozens of organizations, including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the American Academy of Physician Associates, the American Academy of Nursing, the PA Education Association, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Federation of Government Employees, and the National Federation of Federal Employees.\n\n\u201cThe American Association of Nurse Practitioners, on behalf of the over 461,000 nurse practitioners nationwide, commends Senators Collins and Blumenthal, Chairman Paul and Ranking Member Peters for their leadership on passing S. 3296, the Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act, out of Committee. As a dual board-certified nurse practitioner in Portland, Maine, I know the importance of this legislation to federal employees. Authorizing NPs to certify federal workplace injuries and oversee the patient's treatment and care will ensure injured federal employees receive the care they need from their chosen and trusted health care providers to get them back to work sooner,\u201dsaid AANP President Valerie J. Fuller, PhD, DNP.\n\nThe complete text of the bill can be read here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-delivers-floor-remarks-ahead-of-unanimous-senate-passage-of-her-bill-to-combat-lyme-and-other-tick-borne-diseases", "Senator Collins Delivers Floor Remarks Ahead of Unanimous Senate Passage of Her Bill to Combat Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE for a full-resolution image.\n\nClick HERE to watch and HERE to download video of her remarks.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the bipartisan Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act she introduced with Senator Tina Smith (D-MN)\u2014with Senator Angus King (I-ME) joining them as an original cosponsor\u2014passed the Senate unanimously. Senator Collins spoke from the Senate floor prior to passage of the bill.\n\nThe bill reauthorizes initiatives and programs to combat tick-borne diseases first established through the original Kay Hagan Tick Act, which Senators Collins and Smith led to passage in 2019. The Senators named their bill in honor of former Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC), who passed away in October of 2019 due to complications from the tick-borne disease known as the Powassan virus.\n\n\u201cOur bipartisan legislation strengthens federal efforts to confront the alarming public health threat posed by Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses,\u201d said Senator Collins during her remarks. \u201cEach year, the state of Maine has hit a new record high in the number of cases for Lyme disease. Current projections show that 2026 will yet again be a record-setting year. This is a record that we do not want to set.\u201d\n\n\u201cNevertheless, I am encouraged that we are making progress. A clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine is underway right now at the MaineHealth Institute for Research,\u201d she continued. \u201cEvery year my beloved labrador retriever can get a vaccine for tick diseases, and yet we humans cannot. I\u2019m hoping this clinical trial will be successful, and it will make a real difference. Reauthorizing the Kay Hagan Tick Act would allow crucial projects such as that research and public education campaigns to continue.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe University of Maine has an excellent lab that specializes in testing ticks for pathogens, and it has worked very closely with our game wardens, with foresters, with others who are routinely in the woods of Maine and are exposed to tick bites. It actually has developed a little tick kit where you can send the tick into the lab, and it will be tested for pathogens. So, I would be remiss if I did not salute the University of Maine for its excellent work on tick-borne illnesses. This legislation is going to make a big difference in helping to advance their work as well as the research at the MaineHealth Institute for Research,\u201d Senator Collins concluded.\n\nCases of Lyme disease reached a new record level in Maine last year, after doing the same the year before, with more than 4,200 cases being reported statewide. The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act aims to confront the growing public health threat posed by Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases by reauthorizing federal efforts to improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for these diseases.\n\nUsing a three-pronged approach, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act would:\n\nReauthorize Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease for five years. These Centers have led the scientific response against tick-borne diseases, which now make up 75 percent of vector-borne diseases in the U.S. There are four centers located at universities in California, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin. Funding for these centers, which was allotted in 2017, expired last year.\n\nReauthorize CDC Grants to State Health Departments to improve data collection and analysis, support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise awareness of vector-borne diseases. These awards would help states continue building and maintaining a public health infrastructure for Lyme and other vector-borne diseases and amplify their initiatives through public-private partnerships.\n\nRequire the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue implementing and updating, as appropriate, its National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People. This strategy has been integral in efforts to expand research into tick-borne diseases, improve testing and diagnostics, and coordinate efforts across the federal government.\n\n\u201cReauthorization of the Kay Hagan Tick Act represents a critical commitment to addressing the growing threat of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Maine and across the country. Sustained federal support will strengthen surveillance, research, prevention, and public health response while helping translate scientific advances into practical protections for individuals and communities. We appreciate Senator Collins\u2019 continued support on an issue that affects so many Maine people,\u201d said Griffin Dill, Director of the University of Maine Tick Lab.\n\n\u201cThe passage of the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act is a landmark victory for millions of Americans impacted by tick-borne diseases and a major step forward for public health. As a North Carolinian, it is especially meaningful to see Senator Kay Hagan's legacy continue through legislation that will strengthen our nation's response to these increasingly common and complex illnesses. As someone whose own life has been profoundly shaped by tick-borne disease, I know firsthand the devastating consequences these infections can have on individuals and families. This law represents hope\u2014hope for better prevention, stronger public health infrastructure, greater support for states and communities, and faster progress toward the diagnostics, treatments, and care that patients have waited far too long to receive. We are grateful to the bipartisan champions in Congress who made this achievement possible and look forward to working with federal agencies to ensure its successful implementation,\u201d said Meghan Bradshaw, MPH, Executive Director of the Center for Lyme Action.\n\n\u201cVector-borne diseases, particularly those transmitted by ticks, represent a rapidly expanding burden on the nation\u2019s public health system. Incidence rates of diseases such as Lyme, alpha-gal syndrome, anaplasmosis, and others have increased significantly over the past two decades, underscoring the urgent need for a coordinated, science-based national response. The Kay Hagan Tick Act is an important part of strengthening federal coordination, enhancing surveillance, and supporting research on vector-borne diseases. Reauthorization of this legislation will ensure continued progress in several critical areas, including improving diagnostic tools, expanding public health infrastructure, advancing integrated vector management strategies, and fostering collaboration across federal, state, and local agencies. The Entomological Society of America is very grateful to Senator Collins for her critical leadership on this issue, and thanks the many other offices that joined as co-sponsors,\u201d said Erin Cadwalader, Ph.D., Director of Strategic Leadership and Policy for the Entomological Society of America.\n\nThe complete text of the bill can be read here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-presses-administration-to-review-impact-of-canada-tariffs-meets-with-canadian-ambassador", "Senator Collins Presses Administration to Review Impact of Canada Tariffs, Meets with Canadian Ambassador", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE and HERE for individual photos.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins wrote to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer requesting that they provide Maine businesses with greater clarity and notice regarding tariffs on Canadian goods scheduled to take effect on August 19 and consider the tariffs\u2019 expected negative impact on Maine\u2019s economy prior to any potential implementation.\n\nThe proposed 50 percent tariffs cover more than 500 categories of Canadian imports. Maine imports approximately $2 billion in non-petroleum products from Canada each year, and the new tariffs could apply to 5.5 percent of those goods. Maine businesses in industries including paper and concrete have raised concerns that insufficient domestic supply could leave them with no choice but to pay tariffs that could jeopardize their viability and the jobs they support. Maine manufacturers are also worried that potential retaliatory tariffs could disproportionately harm them because Canadians are among their most loyal customers.\n\nThis action comes the same day that Senator Collins met with the recently appointed Canadian Ambassador to the United States, Mark Wiseman. During their meeting, Senator Collins discussed her outreach to Secretary Lutnick and Trade Representative Greer as well as her other efforts to help mitigate the harm caused by tariffs on Canadian goods. They also discussed how the ongoing review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) presents an opportunity to address trade concerns while preserving the close economic relationship between Maine and Canada.\n\n\u201cWith only a month of warning, businesses in Maine and across the United States are being asked to avoid Canadian imports or face tariffs of 50 percent on these specific products,\u201d Senator Collins wrote in her letter. \u201cSmall businesses, which lack large legal departments, have shared with me how difficult it is to navigate this new list and determine the impact of these tariffs.\u201d\n\n\u201cI recognize the need for strong domestic industries that bolster our supply chains. For Mainers, however, Canada is often the closest source of goods in those supply chains. Maine borders only one state, New Hampshire, but shares a 611-mile border with Canada,\u201d she continued. \u201cIt has 24 land ports of entry. Since the tariffs were announced, I have heard from businesses in industries including paper and concrete that insufficient domestic supply will leave them no choice but to pay tariffs at a rate that could jeopardize the viability of their businesses and the good jobs they provide.\u201d\n\n\u201cDuring the peak summer season, Maine\u2019s forest products industry, agricultural sector, and construction companies need to focus on how they can best succeed, not on determining how new government tariffs will affect them. I hope you will consider the unique needs of Maine businesses and municipalities as you implement policies and negotiate agreements affecting American workers and companies,\u201d Senator Collins concluded.\n\nClick here to read her complete letter.\n\n+++\n\nSenator Collins has repeatedly opposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods and worked to protect Maine businesses and communities from their effects. In April 2025, she delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of a resolution to end the emergency declaration being used to impose tariffs on Canadian goods; joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025, which would reassert Congress\u2019 constitutional authority over tariffs; and urged the Administration to exempt previously contracted fire truck orders from tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum that were expected to increase the cost of each truck by $80,000 to $90,000. In July 2025, she joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, which would exempt U.S.-owned small businesses from tariffs on Canadian imports. In December 2025, she requested targeted tariff relief for Maine\u2019s wild blueberry producers, including an exemption for specialized Canadian equipment used to harvest, process, and mow the crop.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-pingree-lead-push-to-protect-federal-workforce-at-portsmouth-naval-shipyard", "King, Pingree Lead Push to Protect Federal Workforce at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and U.S Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), are urging the administration to withdraw a proposed rule that would weaken longstanding civil service protections for federal employees, including the nearly 8,000 civilian workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). In a letter to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Charles Ezell and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Chairman Cathy Harris, the lawmakers warned that the proposal would make it more difficult to recruit and retain the skilled civilian workforce responsible for maintaining the Navy's submarine fleet, ultimately threatening national security.\n\n\"We write in strong opposition to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)'s proposed rule 'Promoting Employee Accountability,\u2019\u201d the lawmakers began. \u201cThis proposed rule would weaken longstanding civil service protections that promote merit-based employment, due process and the recruitment and retention of skilled workers. Moreover, as Members of Congress who represent nearly eight thousand civilian workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we are concerned about the proposed rule's impact on workers essential to our national security.\"\n\n\"By stripping away the procedures that keep discipline fair for civilian employees doing the work of naval readiness... the proposed rule introduces costly unpredictability in the workforce and needlessly undermines readiness. We are concerned this will increase attrition in the critical and experienced workforce that keeps our submarine fleet ready... We, therefore, ask you to withdraw OPM and MSPB's proposed rule,\" the lawmakers concluded.\n\nJoining King and Pingree on the letter are U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and U.S. Representatives Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02) and Chris Pappas (D-NH-01).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDirector Kupor and Acting Chairman Kerner,\n\nWe write in strong opposition to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)\u2019s proposed rule \u201cPromoting Employee Accountability,\u201d Docket OPM-2025-0012 (RIN 3206-AO91). This proposed rule would weaken longstanding civil service protections that promote merit-based employment, due process and the recruitmentand retention of skilled workers. Moreover, as Members of Congress who represent nearly eight thousand civilian workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we are concerned about the proposed rule\u2019s impact on workers essential to our national security.\n\nOPM and MSPB\u2019s joint notice of proposed rulemaking issued on July 2, 2026, unnecessarily weakens civil service protections and undermines workers\u2019 rights to challenge removal. Current law provides agencies with the authority to address misconduct and poor performance while ensuring personnel decisions are appropriate, fair and consistent. This rulewould impose a short 30-day limit for performance improvement periods and make termination the default penalty. Theshortened window, coupled with termination as the default, could result in the loss of skilled workers who could have improved their performance if given sufficient time. Furthermore, the proposed rule weakens workers\u2019 ability to challenge disciplinary measures by barring the use of union time to represent workers in removal proceedings.\n\nSince the MSPB\u2019s decision in Douglas v. Veterans Administration in 1981, agencies must consider 12 factors when examining the reasonableness of an agency\u2019s proposed penalty for adverse action taken under 5 U.S.C. 7513. These include considering mitigating circumstances, rehabilitation potential and length of service. For nearly 50 years across Republican and Democratic administrations, these consistent standards have provided fairness to federal workers facing accusations of misconduct and created a framework for determining approportionate responses. OPM\u2019s and MSPB\u2019s proposal would instead require agencies to rely on an arbitrary, case-by-case examination of whether disciplinary action is reasonable given the \u201ctotality of circumstances\u201d and explicitly states that \u201cnoparticular factors must be considered in every case.\u201d This could allow agencies to ignore important mitigating factors and more easily remove skilled workers with strong rehabilitation potential from critical industries.\n\nAs you are no doubt aware, the men and women who work at our public shipyards are critical members of our defenseindustrial base, without whom the ability to repair, retrofit and refuel our country\u2019s submarines would be in jeopardy. In our states, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) has nearly eight thousand civilian employees, creating more than $1.5 billion in annual economic impact in surrounding communities. As our military\u2019s \u201cpacing threat,\u201d the People\u2019s Republic of China, is rapidly expanding its nuclear weapons programs, the role that our own submarines play in the survivability of our nuclear triad cannot be overstated. In fact, PNSY currently needs to hire over 700 workers annually to meet the Navy\u2019s demand \u2013 which is an increase from 550 over the past two years. Further, policies that reduce workplace protections risk making federal service less attractive to qualified candidates. Due to civilian hiring quotas imposed by the Office of Personnel Management, PNSY has struggled to onboard workers and cannot risk additional delays or departures. If the Administration intends to retain this political litmus test at our public shipyards, the costs of unnecessarily losing more skilled workers through this proposed rule far outweigh any potential benefit.\n\nBy stripping away the procedures that keep discipline fair for civilian employees doing the work of naval readiness and refusing toconsider important factors, the proposed rule introduces costly unpredictability in the workforce and needlessly undermines readiness. We are concerned this will increase attrition in the critical and experienced workforce that keeps our submarine fleet ready, ultimately harming the shipyard\u2019s ability to meet the Navy\u2019s needs and threatening our national security.\n\nWe, therefore, ask you to withdraw OPM and MSPB\u2019s proposed rule, \u201cPromoting Employee Accountability,\u201d and consider alternatives that preserve federal workers\u2019 longstanding civil service protections.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-nomination-of-todd-blanche-to-serve-as-attorney-general", "Senator Collins\u2019 Statement on Nomination of Todd Blanche to Serve as Attorney General", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement on the nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as United States Attorney General:\n\n\u201cI have carefully reviewed Todd Blanche\u2019s qualifications to be Attorney General. This includes his record and responses to questions from Senators at the Department of Justice Appropriations hearing, his confirmation hearing, and in the weeks that followed.\n\n\u201cWhile I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political.\n\n\u201cMr. Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the Department\u2019s independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation:\n\n\u201cMr. Blanche approved an order to shield the President, his sons, and the family business from IRS audits, protections unavailable to other American taxpayers.\n\n\u201cHe approved the creation of a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.\n\n\u201cHe promised an anti-abortion organization that he would seek to prohibit the mailing of abortion medication to women nationwide.\n\n\u201cUnder his leadership, the Department attempted to indict Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin over their ill-advised, but constitutionally protected, videos encouraging resistance to unlawful orders.\n\n\u201cMore than 1,200 former Department of Justice employees have opposed his nomination, arguing that he has undermined the institution.\n\n\u201cFor these reasons, I will vote against this nomination.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-fight-mosquito-borne-diseases", "Senator King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fight Mosquito-Borne Diseases", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen the fight against mosquito and other vector-borne diseases (VBD). The Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) 2.0 Act would reauthorize funding for federal mosquito control and public health response efforts as well as improve preparedness and response efforts for VBDs.\n\nVector-borne diseases (VBDs) is the technical term for diseases spread by insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. For decades, the United States government has successfully controlled VBDs through methods like eliminating standing water breeding grounds and deploying safe pesticides to eliminate the seasonal scourges of malaria and yellow fever.\n\n\u201cOne of the best parts about living in Maine is being able to spend time outdoors, but the threat of dangerous illnesses from mosquito bites is a real concern,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cMosquitoes are more than just a nuisance \u2013 they have the potential to transmit dangerous diseases which threaten American public health Acting to prevent the spread of such diseases is essential to protect the health of Maine people and Americans nationwide. The SMASH 2.0 Act would provide our communities with further protection from vector-borne diseases and their complications, promoting health and reducing healthcare costs.\u201d\n\nMore specifically, the SMASH 2.0 Act would:\n\nReauthorize the CDC\u2019s Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (MASH) program at $100 million per year;\n\nAuthorize within the MASH program to expand training, evaluation, and to support education and training for public health staff engaged in mosquito abatement; and\n\nRequire the CDC to coordinate with the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) on stockpiling vector-borne disease control products.\n\n\u201cMosquitoes and the diseases they transmit are continual threats to all Americans,\u201d said American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) Technical Advisor Daniel Markowski. \u201cThe reauthorization of the SMASH Act is imperative to support the ability of local districts, state health departments, territorial governments, and tribal communities to identify and combat the continued threat of vector-borne diseases from mosquitoes. The AMCA strongly supports this legislation as it will provide local programs with resources for timely, on-the-ground prevention and control.\u201d\n\n\u201cStrengthening the capacity of local and state health departments to detect and respond to outbreaks promptly through vector surveillance, laboratory testing, and integrated disease management programs is necessary to effectively slow the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases and limit their spread to promote the health and safety of the public. The SMASH 2.0 Act is one critical way to help accomplish this and the Entomological Society of America enthusiastically encourages Congress to pass this legislation,\u201d said Dr. Melissa Siebert, the 2026 President of the Entomological Society of America.\n\nJoining Senator King on this legislation are U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Rick Scott (R-FL).\n\n\u201cThe West Nile virus does not consign itself to far-off lands. Mississippians are infected with it every year,\u201d said Senator Wicker (R-MS). \u201cThis bill will help us track and treat West Nile Virus in our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cMinnesotans are proud to boast about our 10,000 lakes and thousands of rivers for us to enjoy, and we\u2019re always eager to get outside after a long winter. The only downside to having so many bodies of water to enjoy are the mosquitos that come with them,\u201d said Senator Smith (D-MN). \u201cThe number of vector-borne disease cases in Minnesota and across the country is on the rise. This bill will strengthen education, preparedness, and response efforts for these diseases, ensuring that Americans can continue to safely enjoy the outdoors.\n\n\u201cFlorida\u2019s world-famous weather brings millions of visitors to beaches and parks across the Sunshine State every year. I am proud to partner with my colleagues to ensure those beautiful outdoor spaces are protected against mosquito-borne illnesses. State and local governments need to be properly prepared to combat the spread of these diseases, and this bill goes a long way to ensure those tools are available to them,\u201d said Senator Scott (R-FL).\n\nSenator King has long been an active proponent for research intended to combat vector-borne diseases. In 2025, Senator King introduced the Kay Hagan Tick Act, landmark legislation to improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for tick-borne diseases. Senator King also introduced the SMASH Act in 2019, a predecessor to the SMASH 2.0 Act that authorized funding for mosquito control and VBD prevention efforts in response to the spread of Zika in the years prior. The SMASH Act was signed into law in 2019.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-medicare-patients-physicians", "King, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Medicare Patients, Physicians", "2026-08-03", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to support physicians and preserve their ability to care for Medicare patients. The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act would modernize the Medicare\u2019s Physician Fee Schedule (MFPS) \u2013 how much medical professionals are reimbursed for providing care \u2013 and preserve patient access to care by adjusting payments to cover more of the actual cost of delivering medical services.\n\nAs reported by the American Medical Association (AMA), the average Medicare reimbursement for physician services has declined roughly 33 percent since 2001 when adjusted for inflation. This reduction can be largely attributed to the Medicare budget neutrality threshold last updated in 1992, which has failed to keep pace with the rising cost of care. The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act reforms key structural elements of MPFS, supporting physicians and preserving their ability to care for Medicare patients.\n\n\u201cAccessible, reliable health care is essential for seniors across Maine, particularly in our rural communities where providers are already stretched thin,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Provider Reimbursement Stability Act would help ensure that Medicare providers are fairly reimbursed so they can continue delivering the full range of care that Maine seniors depend on for their healthcare needs. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this commonsense bipartisan legislation to strengthen access to quality care for older Americans.\u201d\n\nKing is joined on the legislation by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).\n\nSenator King has long been an outspoken advocate for the provision of affordable, accessible healthcare for all Americans. In June of 2026, Senator King introduced the Primary and Behavioral Healthcare Access Act, requiring private insurance plans to cover three annual primary care visits and three annual outpatient mental health or outpatient substance use disorder treatment visits without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible-related fee. In 2022, Senator King also voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, a historic package which included significant, commonsense changes to Medicare that caps out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2000 a year and allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices for many of the drugs it purchases.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-speaks-at-christening-of-future-uss-william-charette-at-biw", "Senator Collins Speaks at Christening of Future USS William Charette at BIW", "2026-08-01", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nBATH, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks today at the christening ceremony for the future USS William Charette (DDG-130) at Bath Iron Works (BIW). Senator Collins was joined at the event by Governor Janet Mills, Senator Angus King, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, BIW President Chuck Krugh, and members of the Charette family.\n\nThe future USS William Charette, built at Bath Iron Works, was christened in honor of Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Charette. During the Korean War, then-Hospital Corpsman Third Class Charette repeatedly braved enemy fire to treat wounded Marines. When an enemy grenade landed near a Marine he was aiding, Charette shielded him with his own body, and despite suffering his own wounds, continued treating casualties. His actions, which were directly responsible for saving the lives of many American service members, earned him the Medal of Honor.\n\n\u201cToday we christen the DDG-130 with the name of a Medal of Honor recipient who exemplified the highest ideals of America and the United States Navy. Through this ship, his courage, humility, and devotion to others will continue to inspire generations of sailors,\u201d said Senator Collins during her remarks. \u201cArleigh Burke-class destroyers form the backbone of the Navy\u2019s surface fleet. To the men and women of Bath Iron Works, you make \u2018Bath Built is Best Built\u2019 not just a slogan, but a way of life. As global threats continue to grow and our adversaries continue to expand their naval fleets, investing in a strong and capable United States Navy and a robust defense manufacturing base here at home is essential.\u201d\n\nSenator Collins has long championed Bath Iron Works and its skilled shipbuilders. Since 2020, she has secured more than $10.9 billion in Navy contract obligations related to DDG-51 destroyers and advocated for more than $3 billion in advance procurement funding to support long-lead materials and future production. These efforts build on the $16 billion she secured for Bath-built destroyers between 2008 and 2020.\n\nShe has also secured more than $1 billion for shipyard infrastructure improvements, including modernization projects at BIW, as well as $200 million for wage enhancements and more than $34 million for BIW workforce initiatives. The workforce funding supports expanded training and assistance with housing, child care, and transportation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-02T07:31:21Z", "2026-08-02T07:32:50Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-jetblue-to-continue-providing-essential-air-service-to-presque-isle", "Senator Collins Announces JetBlue to Continue Providing Essential Air Service to Presque Isle", "2026-07-31", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has selected JetBlue to continue providing Essential Air Service (EAS) to Presque Isle.\n\nUnder the agreement, which covers a two-year term from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028, JetBlue will provide seven round trips per week from Presque Isle International Airport (PQI) to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) using a 140-passenger Airbus A220-300.\n\n\u201cReliable access to commercial air service is critical to the residents and businesses of Aroostook County, connecting them to destinations across the country and supporting economic growth throughout the region,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cI welcome the selection of JetBlue to continue providing service between Presque Isle and Boston. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to support robust funding for the Essential Air Service program, which helps sustain commercial air service in rural communities that might otherwise lack access to the national air transportation network.\u201d\n\nSenator Collins secured $20,462,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending in 2024 to construct a new passenger terminal at PQI. The new passenger terminal will fully replace the airport\u2019s outdated existing terminal that was built in 1954, be fully ADA compliant to ensure accessibility for all passengers, incorporate modern features, and meet updated Federal Aviation Administration design standards. Senator Collins took part in the groundbreaking for the new terminal last year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-01T07:27:26Z", "2026-08-01T07:28:22Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-bipartisan-group-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-cftc-whistleblower-program", "Senator Collins, Bipartisan Group Introduce Legislation to Strengthen CFTC Whistleblower Program", "2026-07-31", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) to introduce the CFTC Whistleblower Protection and Program Improvement Act. This bill would help provide long-term stability to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) whistleblower program, strengthen protections for whistleblowers, and speed up the processing of whistleblower claims.\n\n\u201cThe Commodity Futures Trading Commission plays a crucial role in protecting American commodity markets, and safeguarding its whistleblower program helps maintain public trust in the integrity of those markets,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThis bipartisan bill would provide long-term stability for the CFTC whistleblower program by strengthening protections for whistleblowers, promoting the timely processing of claims, and eliminating a loophole that can prevent whistleblowers from receiving awards.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince I helped get the CFTC whistleblower program up and running, I\u2019m pleased to see it\u2019s been a big success. This program roots out waste, fraud and abuse in the commodities trading industry and operates at no charge to the taxpayer. Now, it\u2019s time for Congress to act so its success can continue. Our bipartisan legislation strengthens protections for patriotic whistleblowers, prevents unnecessary delays in the disbursement of whistleblower awards and ensures the CFTC whistleblower program can operate smoothly,\u201d said Senator Grassley.\n\n\u201cWhistleblowers put their jobs and often their lives on the line to call out the most serious offenses in the workplace. Zero doubt that they should be protected,\u201d said Senator Fetterman. \u201cAs a member of the Agriculture Committee, I\u2019m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Senator Grassley to protect whistleblowers and improve the CFTC whistleblower program.\u201d\n\nThe CFTC Whistleblower Program and Customer Protection Fund (CPF) were founded in 2010. The CPF, which is funded through penalties and fines resulting from enforcement actions, pays awards to whistleblowers who report wrongdoing to the CFTC. The CPF also provides for the operating expenses and educational initiatives associated with the CFTC Whistleblower Program. Since issuing its first award in 2014, the CPF has awarded more than $430 million to whistleblowers and collected more than $3.7 billion in monetary sanctions from violators.\n\nUnder current law, the CPF\u2019s maximum balance is capped at $100 million. Any fines collected after the cap is reached are sent to the Treasury Department\u2019s general fund. As fines from whistleblower disclosures have increased in volume and value in recent years, reward disbursements have also risen. As a result, the CPF is depleting faster than it can be replenished due to the $100 million collection cap. This risks leaving the CFTC without the resources needed to pay whistleblowers or fund its operations.\n\nThe CFTC Whistleblower Protection and Program Improvement Act would help to address this problem and strengthen the program by:\n\nEnhancing protections for CFTC whistleblowers;\n\nMaking permanent the separate account that funds the CFTC Whistleblower Office;\n\nRaising the CPF cap from $100 million to $300 million;\n\nEnsuring whistleblower claims are processed in a timely manner;\n\nEliminating a court-created loophole prohibiting whistleblowers from receiving an award because a company declared bankruptcy; and\n\nEnsuring CFTC-regulated entities inform their employees of their whistleblower rights.\n\nClick here to read the complete text of this legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-01T07:27:26Z", "2026-08-01T07:28:22Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-legislation-to-block-transfer-of-offices-from-the-department-of-education-clears-committee", "Senator Collins\u2019 Legislation to Block Transfer of Offices from the Department of Education Clears Committee", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of Senator Collins discussing the bill during the HELP Committee markup.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined with Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in introducing legislation that would prevent the Department of Education from transferring critical offices to other federal agencies that lack the staff and expertise needed to execute their missions. The bill was considered at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee markup today, where the bill advanced by a bipartisan vote of 13 to 9.\n\nSpecifically, the senators\u2019 legislation would prevent the Department from transferring the Offices of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Postsecondary Education (OPE), Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), and Indian Education to any other federal agency. The legislation has been endorsed by the Bipartisan Policy Center, the National Education Association, and the American Federation of Teachers.\n\n\u201cThis bill is straightforward. It keeps the administration of important landmark education programs at the Department of Education where Congress specifically put them and where they belong,\u201d said Senator Collins during the markup. \u201cThese transfers are misaligned with their program purposes. For example, the Administration has an agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services to administer the education office that manages the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known as IDEA. That change fundamentally misunderstands the history and intent of the Special Education program, which was created in 1975 to ensure that children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education. Today, this office helps meet the education needs of more than 8 million children with disabilities. It\u2019s primarily focused on the student\u2019s education needs, not on their health care needs. Prior to IDEA, far too many children with disabilities did not receive an education.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s students and economy depend on the quality of our schools,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cThat\u2019s why I worked on a bipartisan solution to bar the Department of Education from transferring critical offices and programs\u2014including those that students with disabilities rely on\u2014to other federal agencies that lack the staff and expertise needed to carry out their work. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and will continue to do all I can to ensure that the Department is setting students up for success.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are long overdue for a serious national conversation about updating the federal role in education for the 21st century. That is a debate worth having. But dismantling the Department of Education piece by piece and shuffling programs between agencies is not reform. Sens. Tim Kaine, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski deserve real credit for working together on this critical effort, and I look forward to working with them and other members on reforms that will ensure every child has access to a high-quality education,\u201d said Margaret Spellings, President and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center and former Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush.\n\nThe National Education Association (NEA) urged senators to \u201cvote yes on S. 5046 to prohibit transferring specified Department of Education offices and functions to other federal agencies\u2014as well as any amendments to prevent implementing current or future inter-agency agreements (IAAs). The Trump administration\u2019s illegal push to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) promises \u2018less bureaucracy.\u2019 In reality, it is hurting the students who are our nation\u2019s future leaders and workforce, while creating more bureaucracy and new hurdles for those seeking to educate our nation\u2019s youth,\u201d said Kimberly Johnson Trinca, Director of Government Relations for the NEA.\n\n\u201cThe moves to dismantle the Department of Education by dispersing its functions to other federal departments have been particularly damaging. The administration has created a multiagency structure with overlapping responsibilities, duplicated costs and unclear chains of accountability. This is neither streamlining nor reform\u2014it\u2019s an abdication and abandonment of America\u2019s future. S. 5046 would ensure that American families have access to that expertise by prohibiting the Department of Education from transferring the offices overseeing special education, postsecondary education, elementary and secondary education, and Native American education programs to other agencies. The bipartisan bill will protect students, families, schools and communities from losing the support to which they are entitled under law,\u201d said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.\n\nClick here to read the complete text of the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-legislation-to-protect-polling-stations-from-federal-intervention-armed-troops", "King Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Polling Stations from Federal Intervention, Armed Troops", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring legislation to protect against the use of federal troops or armed federal agents at polling places. The Protect Our Polls Act would require congressional approval prior to any deployment of armed federal law enforcement or uniformed military personnel at polling stations across the country.\n\nExisting federal law explicitly prohibits the federal government from sending federal troops or law enforcement to polling places with only a minor exception should they be used to repel \u201carmed enemies of the United States.\u201d The Protect Our Polls Act aims to close that loophole and create additional barriers to prevent the President from interfering in elections and utilizing law enforcement and the military to intimidate voters.\n\n\u201cFree and fair elections serve as the foundation of American democracy, and its strength rests upon the assurance that elections remain accessible for all Americans,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Protect Our Polls Act would strengthen protections against tactics designed to intimidate voters at polling stations, ensuring that Americans are confident in their safety when exercising their right to vote. Our democracy remains healthy only when those who constitute it have their voices heard, and this bill will protect their ability to do so.\u201d\n\nKing is joined on the legislation by Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jackie Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).\n\nSenator King has long been an outspoken advocate for the protection of democratic freedoms. After President Trump gave a national address threatening increased federal interference with elections, King published an op-ed outlining his concerns surrounding the Trump administration\u2019s aims to nationalize elections. Earlier this week, King introduced the Stop Harassment and Intimidation in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act, authorizing state attorney generals and individual voters to bring civil actions against those who violate federal laws protecting elections. In 2025, Senator King cosponsored the Defending America\u2019s Future Election\u2019s Act, which would repeal an Executive Order to review voter registration lists and allow the federal government to exert greater control over state voting processes, requirements likely to disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters if put in place. Two years prior, in 2023, Senator King also introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, aiming to codify national standard for voting rights in law, end gerrymandering on party lines, and eliminate the influence of undisclosed funding in elections.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-delegation-calls-on-dea-to-clarify-rule-threatening-maine-ems-providers-with-new-costs", "Maine Delegation Calls on DEA to Clarify Rule Threatening Maine EMS Providers with New Costs", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and Jared Golden (D-ME-02) are calling on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to quickly clarify federal guidance that is threatening Maine emergency medical services (EMS) agencies with new costs.\n\nIn a letter to DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, the lawmakers explained that uncertainty surrounding the DEA's implementation of a 2017 law has led several Maine hospital systems to end longstanding agreements that allowed local EMS agencies to obtain certain emergency supplies and medications through their hospital partners. Without these agreements, EMS agencies have begun to spend thousands of their own dollars on these expenses, likely resulting in increased costs for patients as providers seek to recoup the additional expenses.\n\nThe Controlled Substances Act (CSA), along with related DEA regulations, requires registration for any practice that dispenses controlled substances. Prior to 2017, the CSA did not directly mention EMS, and thus EMS departments historically were not required to register to procure or dispense controlled substances \u2013 allowing EMS to acquire medications and supplies from hospital partners to do their critical work.\n\n\u201cWe write today to request that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issue clarifying guidance regarding implementation of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medicines Act of 2017 (PPAEMA),\u201d the lawmakers began. \u201cAs you know, PPAEMA amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to allow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies to obtain independent registrations to administer controlled substances. This statutory change was intended to codify existing law and ensure EMS responders operate seamlessly under the supervision of a licensed physician. Unfortunately, the DEA\u2019s subsequent final rule has created disruption and confusion for Maine\u2019s healthcare system.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe conflicting interpretations of this rule have led our state\u2019s largest hospital networks to abruptly terminate long-standing agreements held with local EMS providers for such medical supplies. Therefore, swift clarification from the DEA is urgently needed not only to prevent exorbitant, unexpected costs from being forced onto Maine\u2019s EMS agencies but also to preserve vital local partnerships,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\n\u201cTherefore, we ask DEA to issue clarifying guidance as soon as possible to prevent further confusion and to ensure more unnecessary costs are not borne by our EMS agencies. Thank you for your attention to our request, and we look forward to your response,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nClick here to read the complete text of the letter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-calls-on-dea-to-clarify-rule-threatening-maine-ems-providers-with-new-costs", "Maine Delegation Calls on DEA to Clarify Rule Threatening Maine EMS Providers with New Costs", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jared Golden (D-ME) are calling on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to quickly clarify federal guidance that is threatening Maine emergency medical service (EMS) agencies with new costs. In a letter to DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, the lawmakers explained that uncertainty surrounding the DEA's implementation of a 2017 law has led several Maine hospital systems to end longstanding agreements that allowed local EMS agencies to obtain certain emergency supplies and medications through their hospital partners. Without these agreements, EMS agencies have already begun to spend thousands of their own dollars on these expenses, likely resulting in cost increases to patients to recoup the additional charges.\n\nThe Controlled Substances Act (CSA), along with related DEA regulations, requires registration for any practice that dispenses controlled substances. Prior to 2017, the CSA did not directly mention EMS, and thus EMS departments historically were not required to register to procure or dispense controlled substances \u2013 allowing EMS to acquire medications and supplies from hospital partners to do their critical work.\n\n\u201cWe write today to request that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issue clarifying guidance regarding implementation of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medicines Act of 2017 (PPAEMA),\u201d the lawmakers began. \u201cAs you know, PPAEMA amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to allow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies to obtain independent registrations to administer controlled substances. This statutory change was intended to codify existing law and ensure EMS responders operate seamlessly under the supervision of a licensed physician. Unfortunately, the DEA\u2019s subsequent final rule has created disruption and confusion for Maine\u2019s healthcare system.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe conflicting interpretations of this rule have led our state\u2019s largest hospital networks to abruptly terminate long-standing agreements held with local EMS providers for such medical supplies. Therefore, swift clarification from the DEA is urgently needed not only to prevent exorbitant, unexpected costs from being forced onto Maine\u2019s EMS agencies but also to preserve vital local partnerships,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\n\u201cTherefore, we ask DEA to issue clarifying guidance as soon as possible to prevent further confusion and to ensure more unnecessary costs are not borne by our EMS agencies. Thank you for your attention to our request, and we look forward to your response,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Administrator Cole:\n\nWe write today to request that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issue clarifying guidance regarding implementation of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medicines Act of 2017 (PPAEMA). As you know, PPAEMA amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to allow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies to obtain independent registrations to administer controlled substances.\n\nThis statutory change was intended to codify existing law and ensure EMS responders operate seamlessly under the supervision of a licensed physician. Unfortunately, the DEA\u2019s subsequent final rule has created severe disruption and confusion for Maine\u2019s healthcare system. The conflicting interpretations of this rule have led our state\u2019s largest hospital networks to abruptly terminate long-standing agreements held with local EMS providers for such medical supplies. Therefore, swift clarification from the DEA is urgently needed not only to prevent exorbitant, unexpected costs from being forced onto Maine\u2019s EMS agencies but also to preserve vital local partnerships.\n\nPPAEMA established a new registration category under the CSA for EMS agencies that are authorized to conduct emergency services under state law. Congressional intent in enacting PPAEMA was clear in focusing on clarifying existing law to align with current practices to allow EMS to administer controlled substances under the supervision of a physician. The purpose was not to create a new requirement whereby EMS agencies would be required to procure controlled substances and other required medications.\n\nHowever, subsequent rulemaking and implementation of PPAEMA has created uncertainty and significant costs to our EMS agencies as they look to comply with the law and new regulations. Per the final rule, \u201c\u2026 controlled substances must be delivered to the registered location of the EMS agency or the hospital if the EMS agency operates under the hospital\u2019s DEA registration.\u201d Hospitals in our state interpret this to mean that previous purchasing and distribution agreements with EMS agencies outside of the hospital organization\u2019s direct oversight are no longer valid and violate PPAEMA rulemaking.\n\nAs a result, approximately 140 EMS agencies across Maine are reportedly spending tens of thousands of dollars each to procure the secure systems required for independent storage compliance. Additionally, these agencies are facing the likelihood of having to spend thousands of dollars, if not more, on required substances. Because these medications are often exclusively sold in bulk, smaller EMS agencies will be forced to buy quantities they cannot realistically use before the drugs expire. At a time of severe budget constraints, this rigid interpretation is creating a crippling operational and financial burden for our EMS agencies.\n\nIn a recent article, quotes from DEA staff and Maine EMS suggest that previous arrangements remain accessible and that registration by EMS agencies with DEA are optional. According to Heidi Carroll, diversion program manager at DEA Northeast Region, \u201cThis is not a requirement by DEA. This is an additional registration category made available, but it does not replace any previous compliant arrangements to provide patient care and emergency services to the public.\u201d However, our hospitals must ensure that they are compliant with DEA regulations and without clarifying guidance, believe that they cannot maintain previous arrangements to procure and distribute controlled substances to EMS agencies.\n\nTherefore, we ask DEA to issue clarifying guidance as soon as possible to prevent further confusion and to ensure more unnecessary costs are not borne by our EMS agencies. Thank you for your attention to our request, and we look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-leads-bill-to-expand-mental-health-care-access-in-rural-maine-communities", "King Leads Bill to Expand Mental Health Care Access in Rural Maine Communities", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King is introducing legislation to help people in rural Maine communities maintain reliable access to mental health care. The Compacts, Access, and Responsible Expansion (CARE) for Mental Health Professionals Act would incentivize interstate medical health provider networks with federally funded grant opportunities. Interstate networks allow providers to practice across state lines while avoiding duplicative registration processes, thus reaching more rural communities with mental health resources.\n\nRural communities are disproportionately affected by the country\u2019s mental health crisis. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 60% of rural Americans live in designated mental health provider shortage areas\n\n\u201cThe expansion of telehealth has been a game changer, especially for rural Maine communities, older adults, and those who might otherwise forgo care due to their inability to pay for or drive to their appointments. Telehealth has improved access to mental health services, eased burdens on providers, and helped patients receive the care they need when they need it,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act adapts care with the times, and reduces unnecessary red tape that makes it harder for qualified providers to deliver telehealth services across state lines, ensuring more Maine people can access quality mental health care for years to come.\u201d\n\n\"NAMI Maine remains committed to advancing policies that improve access to mental health care and strengthen the behavioral health workforce, said Jennifer Thompson, Executive Director of National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine. \u201cWe support bipartisan solutions, such as Sen. King's CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act, that ensure individuals, families, and communities can find qualified professionals when and where they need them,\".\n\nSenator King is a long-time advocate for the availability and accessibility of telemedicine. King co-sponsored the bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act and the Telehealth Modernization Act which make current telehealth flexibilities permanent and ensure Medicare beneficiaries can continue enjoying access to telemedicine. Senator King also introduced the CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act, and co-sponsored the TREAT Act, to address interstate medical professional licensing issues.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-protect-elections-from-interference-and-tampering", "King, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Elections from Interference and Tampering", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing legislation to protect elections from interference and tampering \u2013 from both outside actors and unconstitutional orders from the federal government. The Stop Harassment and Intimidation in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act would authorize state attorneys general and individual voters to bring civil actions against those who violate federal laws protecting elections, extend the statute of limitations for federal criminal prosecutions involving election interference from five to nine years, and establish additional protections to prevent the unlawful seizure of ballots before election results are finalized.\n\n\"Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution makes it clear that the oversight and administration of elections is left to the states; recent remarks and proposals from the White House seem to threaten the firewall our founders made a priority \u2013 and also contradicts the principle of states\u2019 rights,\" said Senator King. \"The SHIELD Our Elections Act reinforces those fundamental principles and sustaining public faith in elections that are conducted fairly, impartially, and constitutionally \u2013 while strengthening accountability for those who attempt to undermine our electoral system.\"\n\nMore specifically, the SHIELD Our Elections Act would:\n\nAllow State Attorneys General and impacted voters to sue when federal officials unlawfully interfere with or intimidate them at polling places;\n\nStrengthen accountability by extending the statute of limitations from five to nine years for key federal election crimes, including interference by armed forces and voter intimidation, to enable them to be brought by future administrations for past actions;\n\nProtect ballots from improper seizure by limiting when state or federal law enforcement may seize ballots or election equipment and requiring court-authorized election officials to maintain joint custody whenever materials must be seized, especially before the resolution of an election.\n\nIn addition to King, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).\n\nSenator King has long been a proponent for the protection of democratic freedoms. Last week, he published an op-ed last weekoutlining his concerns surrounding the Trump administration\u2019s aims to nationalize election. King has also cosponsored the Right to Vote Act, which would establish the first-ever statutory right to vote in federal elections, protecting citizens from state and federal laws that attempt to restrict or limit voter access. In 2023, he introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, which aimed to establish national standards for voting rights, end partisan gerrymandering, and eliminate the influence of secret money in elections. In 2025, Senator King cosponsored the Defending America\u2019s Future Election\u2019s Act, which would repeal an Executive Order to review voter registration lists and insert the federal government into state voting processes, requirements that would likely disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters if implemented.\n\nIncreasing civic engagement and historical literacy among Americans is also a prominent objective of Senator King\u2019s. In 2025, he introduced the CIVICS Act, bipartisan legislation that would bolster civics education resources for school children across the United States. In 2022, he also introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate a National High School Seniors Voter Registration Day and encourage greater civic participation among high school seniors that are eligible to vote. Most recently, Senator King led a conversation hosted by the Brookings Institute on \u201cCivics at 250\u201d that was nationally televised on C-SPAN.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-28T07:37:32Z", "2026-07-28T07:38:50Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-walks-in-casco-days-grand-parade", "Senator Collins Walks in Casco Days Grand Parade", "2026-07-25", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nCASCO, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins took part in the Casco Days Grand Parade, a highlight of the annual Casco Days celebration that raises funds for the Casco Fire Association and the community organizations it supports. Senator Collins joined marching bands, community groups, and a procession of floats, vintage cars, and fire trucks through the Town of Casco.\n\n\u201cSince 1934, Casco Days has brought the Lakes Region community together to raise money for local causes, and I am grateful to the many volunteers whose time and dedication make this celebration possible year after year,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cIt was a pleasure to take part in the Grand Parade today and see Casco filled with families, friends, and neighbors enjoying this cherished summer tradition.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-26T07:35:04Z", "2026-07-26T07:36:32Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-politico-highlights-advance-of-senator-collins-bipartisan-35-insulin-cap", "ICYMI: POLITICO Highlights Advance of Senator Collins\u2019 Bipartisan $35 Insulin Cap", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 POLITICO highlighted the bipartisan Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee vote to advance the INSULIN Act, landmark legislation led by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA).\n\nThe legislation advanced by a vote of 17-5, with six Republicans joining all 11 Democrats on the Committee. The bill would cap monthly out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 for Americans with private insurance and create a pilot program to help uninsured patients access insulin at the same price.\n\n\u201cHealth Committee advances Collins\u2019 insulin price cap over GOP objections\u201d\n\nPOLITICO | Simon Levien\n\n\u201cThe Republican-led Senate Health Committee voted Wednesday to advance legislation over the objection of its chair to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for diabetes patients on private insurance.\n\n\u201cOne of the chief sponsors of the INSULIN Act is Maine Republican Susan Collins, who Democrats are banking on beating in November in order to regain control of the chamber.\n\n\u201cCollins immediately touted the bill\u2019s committee approval in a statement, saying that it showed how effective she is at working with Democrats. \u2018Too many patients [are] struggling to afford lifesaving insulin,\u2019 she said. \u2018I will keep working across the aisle to lower costs, strengthen Maine\u2019s health care workforce, and help better ensure that people in every part of our state can access quality, affordable care close to home.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe measure was approved 17-5 with the panel\u2019s 11 Democrats joined by six Republicans. Five Republicans voted no, including Chair Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a highly unusual outcome.\n\n\u201cBut the backing of six Republicans showed how much the GOP has shifted in the Trump era in its willingness to pressure businesses to cut prices and even use the power of government to force companies to do so.\u201d [\u2026]\n\n+++\n\nFollowing the Committee vote, Senators Collins, Shaheen, Warnock, and Kennedy issued the following statement celebrating the continued bipartisan support for their legislation:\n\n\u201cWe applaud the advancement of our bipartisan legislation to make insulin more affordable out of the Senate HELP Committee. We are glad that our colleagues on the Committee agreed that action is sorely needed to lower health care costs for American families, including the millions of people who need insulin every day just to survive but struggle to make ends meet. Today\u2019s vote brings us another step closer to making insulin affordable and available to those whose lives depend on it and demonstrates the continued bipartisan momentum behind our legislation. We will continue to work every day to get this vital piece of legislation to the Senate floor for a vote.\u201d\n\nThe INSULIN Act is backed by 29 senators from both parties. In addition to Senators Collins, Shaheen, Warnock, and Kennedy, supporters include Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Angus King (I-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Katie Britt (R-AL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jim Justice (R-WV), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jim Banks (R-IN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Mark Warner (D-VA).\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-rural-access-to-maternal-health-care-advances-out-of-committee", "Senator Collins\u2019 Bipartisan Bill to Expand Rural Access to Maternal Health Care Advances Out of Committee", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee markup, the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act advanced by a bipartisan vote of 21 to 1. This bill, introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Tina Smith (D-MN), would help prepare rural hospitals and practitioners to handle the obstetric emergencies that come through their doors as more delivery units, particularly those in rural areas, are being forced into closure. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for consideration by the full body.\n\n\u201cNationwide, more than two million women live in a county without a provider offering obstetric care. In Maine, about half of our hospitals do not have dedicated labor and delivery units. Rural Mainers have to drive more than 45 minutes to the nearest birthing hospital on average,\u201d said Senator Collins during the markup. \u201cThe bill that we're marking up today will ensure that rural hospitals will be better prepared to handle women experiencing an emergency with their pregnancy, even if that hospital does not have dedicated labor and delivery staff. The grants and training opportunities created by this bill are sorely needed. It seems like every month we learn of another rural hospital in Maine that is giving up its obstetrics unit because of a lack of providers. I ask all of our colleagues to support passage of this legislation.\u201d\n\nBetween 2011 and 2021, more than 260 rural hospitals in the U.S. shut down their obstetrics services, representing one in four of the nation\u2019s rural obstetric units. This trend has left more than 2 million women in a maternity care desert, meaning that they live in a county without a provider offering obstetric care such as labor and delivery. This can lead to longer driving times for care and increased health risks.\n\nSpecifically, the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act would help rural hospitals and doctors prepare to handle the obstetric emergencies that come through their doors by:\n\nCreating training programs to help non-specialists respond to emergencies like labor and delivery; and\n\nDeveloping a pilot program for teleconsultation services, so that a doctor at a rural facility helping an expecting or postpartum mother facing an emergency can quickly consult with maternal health care experts.\n\nClick here to read the complete text of the legislation.\n\nImproving access to health care in rural areas has long been a focus of Senator Collins\u2019 efforts in the Senate. Last December, she announced that Maine will receive $190 million in first-year funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a $50 billion initiative she proposed to support rural health care systems across the country. The RHTP represents the largest single federal investment in rural health care in more than two decades.\n\nEarlier this year, Senator Collins secured $70,872,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for Maine hospitals and health centers in the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. This funding included $1,599,000 to replace and modernize labor and delivery unit equipment at hospitals in Bangor, Dover-Foxcroft, Ellsworth, Portland, and Presque Isle.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-americas-nursing-workforce-advances-out-of-committee", "Senator Collins\u2019 Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen America\u2019s Nursing Workforce Advances Out of Committee", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee markup, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act advanced by a bipartisan vote of 21 to 1. This bill, introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), would reauthorize, update, and improve critical programs under Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act, a law passed in 1944 to support public health and health care professionals. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for consideration by the full body.\n\n\u201cThe State of Maine continues to face a serious shortage of nurses, particularly in rural communities where hospitals struggle to recruit and retain staff. This shortage is driven by a severe shortage of nursing faculty,\u201d said Senator Collins during the markup. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation would help strengthen the nursing workforce by reauthorizing critical programs that support nursing education, expand access to clinical training, and help schools prepare more students for careers in nursing. These programs are essential to addressing the workforce shortage facing hospitals in rural areas in Maine and across our country.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act would:\n\nReauthorize funding for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs from Fiscal Year 2026 through Fiscal Year 2030;\n\nMake technical changes to the Advanced Nursing Education Program and make clear that grants for traineeships can cover the costs for clinical education and preceptors;\n\nAllow nurse education, practice, quality, and retention grants to be used to cover the cost of audiovisual or other equipment, simulation and augmented reality resources, telehealth technologies, and virtual and physical laboratories, as well as to be used to increase the number of faculty and students at schools of nursing in order to address nursing workforce shortages; and\n\nClarify that nurse education, practice, quality, and retention grants can be used to provide care for survivors of sexual assault and to partner with a health care facility that provides educational opportunities for the purpose of establishing or expanding clinical education.\n\nThe Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act is supported by more than 50 organizations, including the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).\n\nClick here to read the complete text of the legislation.\n\nSenator Collins has also worked to address health care workforce shortages and expand access to care in rural and underserved communities. She introduced the bipartisan Train More Nurses Act with Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) to identify ways to increase nursing school faculty and create additional pathways for Licensed Practical Nurses to become Registered Nurses. The MOBILE Health Care Act, which she introduced with Senator Rosen and was signed into law in 2022, allows community health centers to use federal funds to establish new mobile health care units to increase access to health care services in rural and underserved communities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-bipartisan-insulin-act-advances-out-of-committee", "Senator Collins\u2019 Bipartisan INSULIN Act Advances Out of Committee", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee markup, the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act advanced by a bipartisan vote of 17 to 5. This landmark legislation, introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA), would cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for Americans with private and employer-sponsored insurance. It would also create a pilot program to make insulin available at the same cost to uninsured Americans, removing barriers to care and expanding access to this critical medication for millions of patients. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for consideration by the full body.\n\n\u201cBeginning in 2015, I chaired eight hearings on prescription drug prices when I chaired the Senate Aging Committee. We heard countless stories from Americans who were struggling to afford the medicine they needed, and the unaffordable cost of insulin was featured prominently at almost every single hearing,\u201d said Senator Collins during the markup. \u201cThe bill we're marking up today is the culmination of these efforts. While recent decisions by manufacturers to cut their list prices on insulin are encouraging, there is still more work to be done.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur bill would cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for individuals who are on commercial insurance plans. According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 40 percent of people with diabetes have rationed or skipped insulin doses due to the cost,\u201d she continued. \u201cOne of my constituents, Bek Hoskins from Chelsea, Maine, skipped doses of insulin when she was unable to afford it, and ended up in the emergency room. The INSULIN Act would help people like Bek afford the insulin that they need to survive. The bill not only caps out-of-pocket costs for patients but addresses perverse incentives in the market and the lack of biosimilar competition that contribute to high list prices for insulin.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the INSULIN Act:\n\nLimits out-of-pocket costs for patients with diabetes by ensuring that group and individual market health plans must waive any deductible and limit cost-sharing to no more than $35 or 25% of list price per month for at least one insulin of each type and dosage form;\n\nProhibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from placing utilization management tools, such as prior authorization, on capped insulin products;\n\nPromotes generic and biosimilar competition to lower costs to patients;\n\nCreates a pilot grant program for 10 states to implement programs to identify people with diabetes who are uninsured and provide them with insulin at $35 per month; and\n\nEstablishes an insulin resource center and hotline for people with diabetes who are uninsured to connect them with resources about diabetes and programs to help them secure insulin.\n\nThe INSULIN Act is supported by the American Diabetes Association, Breakthrough T1D, the Endocrine Society, the National Kidney Foundation, and AARP.\n\nClick here to read the complete text of the legislation.\n\nAs co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, Senators Collins and Shaheen have long worked to strengthen investments in diabetes research, lower treatment costs, and improve access to care for patients. Earlier this year, they secured the reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program at $200 million per year\u2014a $40 million increase and the highest funding level in the program\u2019s history. Since 1997, the Special Diabetes Program has delivered meaningful research breakthroughs and resources for individuals with Type 1 diabetes and for Native American and Alaska Native communities.\n\nSenators Collins and Shaheen have also introduced the Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act to expand Medicare coverage for diabetes self-management training (DSMT) sessions; the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act to improve care for patients with diabetes by allowing nurse practitioners and physician associates/physician assistants to prescribe therapeutic shoes; and the Strengthening Collective Resources for Encouraging Education Needed (SCREEN) for Type 1 Diabetes Act to improve early detection and screening by increasing public awareness of the signs and symptoms of Type 1 diabetes and supporting educational campaigns about the importance of early diagnosis.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-five-bipartisan-measures-to-lower-insulin-costs-strengthen-health-care-workforce-advance-out-of-committee", "Senator Collins\u2019 Five Bipartisan Measures to Lower Insulin Costs, Strengthen Health Care Workforce Advance Out of Committee", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that three of her bills advanced as standalone measures, while two additional bills she authored advanced in their entirety as part of a broader health care workforce bill. All five measures received strong bipartisan support during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee markup. Together, the measures would cap the monthly cost of insulin and strengthen the health care workforce in Maine and across the country.\n\n\u201cFamilies across Maine are being squeezed by rising health care costs, while rural hospitals and other providers are struggling to recruit and retain the skilled professionals they need to serve their communities,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cWith maternity units closing, workforce shortages straining hospitals, and too many patients struggling to afford lifesaving insulin, these bipartisan measures address some of the most pressing challenges facing Maine people. I was pleased to see the strong support these measures received in committee today, and as they continue through the legislative process, I will keep working across the aisle to lower costs, strengthen Maine\u2019s health care workforce, and help better ensure that people in every part of our state can access quality, affordable care close to home.\u201d\n\nThe three bills introduced by Senator Collins that advanced at today\u2019s committee markup include:\n\nImproving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act \u2013 Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Senator Collins\u2019 remarks on this bill.\n\nA bill introduced by Senators Collins, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA) to cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for Americans with private and employer-sponsored insurance. The committee also approved an amendment to the bill that would create a pilot program to provide insulin at the same cost to uninsured Americans. The bipartisan INSULIN Act is supported by the American Diabetes Association, Breakthrough T1D, the Endocrine Society, the National Kidney Foundation, AARP, and several other groups. This bill advanced by a vote of 17 to 5.\n\nRural Obstetrics Readiness Act \u2013 Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Senator Collins\u2019 remarks on this bill.\n\nA bill introduced by Senators Collins, Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Tina Smith (D-MN) that would help prepare rural hospitals and practitioners to handle obstetric emergencies as more labor and delivery units, particularly those in rural areas, are forced to close. The bill would provide funds to rural health care facilities to develop obstetric emergency training programs and establish a pilot program for urgent maternal telehealth services. This bill advanced by a vote of 21 to 1.\n\nTitle VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act \u2013 Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Senator Collins\u2019 remarks on this bill.\n\nA bill introduced by Senators Collins, Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) that would reauthorize, update, and improve critical programs under Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act. The bill would support nursing education, expand access to clinical training, and help schools prepare more students for careers in nursing, addressing nursing workforce needs in education, practice, recruitment, and retention. This bill advanced by a vote of 21 to 1.\n\nThe following bills were included as part of the Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness (EMPOWER) for Health Act, which advanced today by a vote of 21 to 1:\n\nClick HERE to watch and HERE to download Senator Collins\u2019 remarks on this bill.\n\nGeriatrics Workforce Improvement Act\n\nThis bill, introduced by Senators Collins and Tim Kaine (D-VA), would reauthorize funding for the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program and the Geriatrics Academic Career Awards through 2031. These programs train the current health care workforce and family caregivers while developing emerging leaders in geriatric education and clinical care.\n\nPublic Health and Bio-Preparedness Workforce Loan Repayment Reauthorization Act\n\nThis bill, introduced by Senators Collins and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), would reauthorize the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Loan Repayment Program through 2031. The program provides student loan repayment opportunities for health professionals with expertise in infectious diseases and emergency preparedness and response while helping address workforce recruitment and retention challenges and better preparing the American health care system for future public health emergencies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-urge-white-house-to-withdraw-proposed-rule-politicizing-scientific-research-grants", "King, Colleagues Urge White House to Withdraw Proposed Rule Politicizing Scientific Research, Grants", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is urging the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to withdraw a proposed rule that would significantly expand political control over how federal agencies award grants and cooperative agreements. In a letter to OMB Director Russ Vought with several of his colleagues, the senators warn the proposal could undermine scientific research, weaken American competitiveness, and jeopardize funding for critical projects in communities across the country.\n\nOMB has proposed sweeping, partisan changes to the rules governing how federal agencies award and administer grants and cooperative agreements \u2013 the primary mechanisms through which the country funds basic research, applied science, and scientific workforce development. These agencies also fund a wide array of grants for local projects, including but not limited to infrastructure, public health, resource conservation, and rural development. The proposed rules formalize an August 7, 2025 Executive Order that directed OMB to expand political oversight over all federal awards.\n\n\u201cThe proposed changes solidify federal grant-making as an unprecedented partisan power-grab that eliminates transparency of how taxpayer dollars are spent. This rule would derail American innovation and competitiveness at the local and national levels, kill good-paying American jobs, drive up costs for families, and halt essential projects in local communities,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cInstead of supporting data-driven investments that pay dividends for the American people, this guidance facilitates partisan ideals and cronyism, leaving Americans in the dark.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe share the goals of improved transparency, accountability, and oversight; clarification of regulatory structure; and reducing recipient burden\u2013all in pursuit of continuing America\u2019s global leadership in science and innovation. However, these regulations would act in opposition to these goals. They would undermine our country\u2019s competitiveness, erode our scientific ecosystem, increase unwanted bureaucracy, enable corruption, and perpetuate uncertainty across our local communities. We strongly urge you to withdraw this proposed rule,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nJoining King on the letter are U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Mr. Vought,\n\nWe write to express our strong opposition to the proposed rule revising the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance, docket OMB-2026-0034. We urge you to rescind this rule immediately. The proposed changes solidify federal grant-making as an unprecedented partisan power-grab that eliminates transparency of how taxpayer dollars are spent. This rule would derail American innovation and competitiveness at the local and national levels, kill good-paying American jobs, drive up costs for families, and halt essential projects in local communities. Instead of supporting data-driven investments that pay dividends for the American people, this guidance facilitates partisan ideals and cronyism, leaving Americans in the dark.\n\nThe proposed guidance enables corruption.\n\nThis rule turns federal assistance into a political slush fund. The rulemaking obliterates the objective, nonpartisan guardrails that ensure that grants and cooperative agreements are awarded to qualified projects. The rulemaking expands federal authority to impose special conditions, suspend Congressionally-directed funding, or terminate awards based solely on the administration\u2019s political priorities. No transparency or accountability requirements are imposed on any of this political intervention. This gives political appointees the power to circumvent Congress\u2019 Constitutional power of the purse and allows the direction of taxpayer dollars to friends and associates as opposed to qualified teams capable of advancing American innovation.\n\nThe proposed guidance hurts communities building in their own backyards.\n\nThis rulemaking creates an outsized level of influence for the Executive Branch in the local grant processes by enabling political appointees to select, or even cancel, previously awarded grants based on ideological and partisan values. States, local governments, Tribes, and locally-led organizations hold an intimate knowledge of how federal funding should be used in their communities. Creating a system where grantees must cater to the priorities of the current political party prevents them from prioritizing the actual needs of the community. This has already impacted vital investments in transportation infrastructure,1 energy,2 affordable housing, and the modernization of resident services3 in cities across the nation. Projects that were awarded funding under a previous administration have been notified that their funding is now paused and under review despite shovels already being in the ground. This is disruptive anda waste of valuable taxpayer dollars. If finalized, these guidelines would only encourage and perpetuate this waste and uncertainty that hinge on political whims.\n\nThe proposed guidance undermines American scientific competitiveness.\n\nBasing funding decisions on politics rather than vetted rubrics and peer review is a severe form of government overreach that prevents intellectual freedom, and with it, the objective, methodical nature of curiosity-driven science that leads to innovation. America\u2019s unique scientific ecosystem that enabled our innovative edge and global leadership is built around federal research and development (R&D) funding that fills market gaps that industry cannot, trains a highly skilled workforce, funds cutting-edge research, and catalyzes commercialization of that research to create jobs and improve quality of life. In just one example, experimental research on reptiles in the 1980s led to the invention of GLP-1 medicines that are revolutionizing health care today.4,5 Our country risks losing its competitive edge in innovation, invention, and technology development should partisan politics be put above scientific integrity and intellectual freedom, as this rule proposes to do.Seventy percent of federal R&D dollars flow to universities and labs. This funding is used to train students and attract talent.6 Every single dollar of this R&D funding generates between $1.40-$2.10 in economic returns to taxpayers: the highest return of any government spending.7 The uncertainty around scientific integrity, exacerbated by the very consideration of this rule, is already causing brain drain. Faculty are reducing the timeline to train graduate students from previous\n\nThe proposed guidance would censor life-saving science to promote a political agenda.\n\nThis ruling would solidify an attack on intellectual freedom under the guise of avoiding \u201cdiversity, equity, and inclusion\u201d in federally funded activities. That attack goes to such extremes that it has already stopped research into inherently unique issues, such as ovarian cancer in females,17 which were identified by keyword searches including words like \u201cwomen\u201d.18 Ideological restrictions could eliminate funding for credible research projects simply because an application contains terms like \u201cBlack Americans\u201d or \u201cAsian Americans.\u201d For example, this overreach directly threatens vital funding for sickle cell disease, despite the fact that Black Americans account for 90% of those diagnosed in the United States.19 Hepatitis research into life saving treatments would also be derailed because the disease disproportionately affects Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.20 The cost of these cuts is measured in American lives.\n\nThe proposed guidance razes foundational pillars of the American scientific enterprise. Global collaborations where experts exchange ideas and resources give rise to new findings that are shared through the publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts. This kind of exchange is the very foundation of American leadership in science and innovation. Arbitrarily blocking international research collaboration due to xenophobic politics will lead to the loss of our world-leading scientific status. Researchers frequently collaborate through relationships forged at conferences where they communicate their work, for which funds would be prohibited from being used by this rule. Additionally, preventing scientists from sharing the results of their research in peer-reviewed journals would further eliminate transparency. International collaborations and partnerships provide essential opportunities for maximizing resources and ensuring that the best minds are contributing to new discoveries, but these changes would disallow any federal funds from being used for collaboration with \u201ccovered foreign countries or regions\u201d as determined in part by executive orders which can change with no warning or limits. Research conducted on NASA\u2019s International Space Station (ISS) has led to new water purification systems, better understanding of diseases like asthma and cancer, and improved disaster response.21 Without international collaboration, the ISS would never have come to fruition, and these discoveries would have been left in the dark.\n\nThe proposed guidance increases bureaucracy and red tape.\n\nWhile this administration claims to champion efficiency, this rule does the exact opposite. It overburdens local governments, small businesses, and research institutions in a mountain of duplicative paperwork, audits, and political compliance certifications. This unwanted bureaucracy acts as a tax on local projects. When towns and small businesses are forced to spend time and resources navigating arbitrary federal red tape, project timelines stretch out, and costs skyrocket. These costs are ultimately passed directly on to American families.\n\nWe share the goals of improved transparency, accountability, and oversight; clarification of regulatory structure; and reducing recipient burden\u2013all in pursuit of continuing America\u2019s global leadership in science and innovation. However, these regulations would act in opposition to these goals. They would undermine our country\u2019s competitiveness, erode our scientific ecosystem, increase unwanted bureaucracy, enable corruption, and perpetuate uncertainty across our local communities. We strongly urge you to withdraw this proposed rule. Instead, we encourage you to craft productive, unbiased guidance that actually serves the American people.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-20-million-award-for-maines-forest-bioproducts-tech-hub", "Senator Collins Announces $20 Million Award for Maine\u2019s Forest Bioproducts Tech Hub", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today that the U.S. Department of Commerce\u2019s Economic Development Administration has awarded $20 million to Maine\u2019s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub\u2014an economic development initiative led by the University of Maine. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called Senator Collins to personally inform her of the approval of this funding award.\n\nThe Department of Commerce originally announced an award for the Maine Tech Hub in January of last year but later withdrew the funding and required the Tech Hub to recompete for its funding award. Following the withdrawal of funding, Senator Collins and her staff worked closely with the University of Maine and other project leaders to make adjustments and provide clarifications to the grant application to help ensure its approval by the Department.\n\n\u201cThis funding is welcome news for the University of Maine, Maine\u2019s forest products industry, and the many partners working to build a stronger economic future for our state,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cI was proud to champion this forward-looking project, which will help find new and innovative ways to leverage our state\u2019s bountiful natural resources, create good-paying jobs, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and help ensure that the forest products industry remains a cornerstone of Maine\u2019s economy for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Collins has been a tireless champion of Maine\u2019s Tech Hub Program. We are pleased to announce our intention to fund this award, which will empower Maine\u2019s innovators to develop new and advanced forest-based bioproducts, commercialize cutting-edge technologies, and strengthen domestic supply chains,\u201d said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. \u201cPresident Trump remains committed to supporting the manufacturing industry and ensuring that jobs are created and remain in America.\u201d\n\nLed by the University of Maine in partnership with the Maine Technology Institute, the Maine Department of Labor, the Maine National Guard, industry leaders, and economic-development organizations, Maine\u2019s Tech Hub will support the development and commercialization of wood-derived alternative aviation fuel, advanced composites for construction, and safer packaging materials. The initiative will also expand workforce training and apprenticeship opportunities in advanced manufacturing.\n\nMaine\u2019s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub was designated by the Department of Commerce in 2023 as one of 31 Tech Hubs nationwide. Tech Hubs bring together businesses, educational institutions, government agencies, and other regional partners to accelerate technological innovation, expand regional economies, and create jobs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-renew-demands-to-dhs-for-civilian-protections-greater-transparency", "King, Colleagues Renew Demands to DHS for Civilian Protections, Greater Transparency", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is leading dozens of his Senate colleagues in calling for stronger accountability measures for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the thirty-nine Senators urge DHS to fulfill its previous commitments to deploy and expand the usage of body-worn cameras, strengthen officer identification requirements, and review enforcement protocols.\n\nThe measures suggested by the Senators are intended to help prevent future deadly encounters involving ICE enforcement officers \u2013 and comes after two fatal shootings during immigration enforcement operations in Biddeford, Maine, and Houston, Texas.\n\n\u201cThe recent fatal shootings involving U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, specifically within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in Biddeford, Maine, and Houston, Texas, coupled with similar incidents elsewhere in the country, are completely unacceptable,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cRather than making our communities safer, these actions endanger our citizens and seriously undermine confidence in law enforcement generally.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe tragic deaths of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Dur\u00e1n Guerrero occurred less than a week apart and carry startling similarities. In both incidents, the individuals were killed in enforcement actions in which they were not the intendedtargets. Furthermore, both individuals were shot by DHS officials while inside a vehicle. The unnecessary loss of life in these incidents demands immediate, thorough, independent, and transparent investigations (including the full involvement of local and state law enforcement personnel) along with a comprehensive examination of enforcement protocols, training, and operational approaches necessary to prevent such tragedies. These recent events have further compromised the credibility of DHS and fractured public trust within communities across our country. In each case, DHS quickly issued statements asserting that officers were acting in self-defense, even before evidence of the facts surrounding the incidents had been gathered. Compounding this failure, no DHS officials involved in these fatal shootings wore body-worn cameras that could be reviewed by investigators or members of the public,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\n\u201cWe remain supportive of removing dangerous convicted criminals from our communities, but this goal can and must be achieved without endangering these very communities in the process. By no stretch could either of the victims in Texas and Maine be characterized as \u201cthe worst of the worst,\u201d making these tragic deaths even more egregious. The American people deserve clarity and accountability. We urge you to honor your Department\u2019s earlier commitments and take immediate action to implement these necessary reforms. We also stand ready to work with you to codify reforms into law,\u201d the Senators finished.\n\nJoining King on the letter are U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and John Fetterman (D-PA).\n\nSenator King has been outspoken and proactive in his efforts to negotiate necessary guardrails for ICE and CBP in the wake of unprofessional and unconstitutional behavior among those agencies. In January, King appeared on Face the Nation where he explained his Constitutional concerns over how ICE was operating in Maine, as well as possible paths forward for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package. In February, he released a statement on congressional efforts to curtail ICE\u2019s activities in Maine and across the country\u2014again calling for the implementation of guardrails. Most recently, King called for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Biddeford. Additionally, when given the chance to vote for a DHS budget that funded TSA, FEMA, CISA and the Coast Guard \u2013 holding ICE and CBP funding for bipartisan negotiations to include additional civilian protections \u2013 Senator King voted in favor of this approach all eleven times it was considered on the Senate floor.\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Mullin:\n\nThe recent fatal shootings involving U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, specifically within U.S. Immigrationand Customs Enforcement (ICE), in Biddeford, Maine, and Houston, Texas, coupled with fatalities during similar incidents elsewhere in the country, are completely unacceptable. Rather than making our communities safer, these actions endanger our citizens and seriously undermine confidence in law enforcement generally.\n\nThe tragic deaths of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Dur\u00e1n Guerrero occurred less than a week apart and carry startlingsimilarities. In both incidents, the individuals were killed in enforcement actions in which they were not the intended targets. Furthermore, both individuals were shot by DHS officials while inside a vehicle. The unnecessary loss of life in these incidents demands immediate, thorough, independent, and transparent investigations (including the full involvement of local and state law enforcement personnel), along with a comprehensive examination of enforcement protocols, training, and operational approachesnecessary to prevent such tragedies.\n\nThese recent events have further compromised the credibility of DHS and fractured public trust within communities across our country. In each case, DHS quickly issued statements asserting that officers were acting in self-defense, even before evidence of the facts surrounding the incidents had been gathered. Compounding this failure, no DHS officials involved in these fatal shootings wore body-worn cameras that could be reviewed by investigators or members of the public.\n\nWhile DHS has previously acknowledged that body-worn cameras promote public trust and increase officer and public safety, accountability, and transparency, the Department has clearly not prioritized acquiring cameras. Recent statements from DHS andthe White House assert that DHS could not acquire cameras due to the government shutdown. However, since July 2025, DHS received nearly $40 billion in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that could have been used to swiftly acquire and deploy body-worn cameras for both existing ICE law enforcement officers and the reported 10,000 additional officers hired since enactment of OBBBA. Contrary to recent statements made by the Department and the White House, DHS has had more than sufficient time and funding to procure and deploy a body-worn camera for every officer before the end of 2025.\n\nFollowing public outrage in the aftermath of the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, the former Secretary announced in February of this year that DHS law enforcement officers would be required to wear body-worn cameras across the country, and ICE issued a directive reinforcing its policy to activate body-worn cameras during enforcement activities wherever cameras areavailable. Then-Secretary Noem stated that \u201c[a]s funding is available, the body-worn camera program will be expanded nationwide.\u201d In March of this year, the White House border czar, Tom Homan, stated that the administration would expand the use of body-worn cameras by DHS officers undertaking immigration enforcements and require footage, in addition to ending roving patrols. The recent tragedies confirm that neither of these commitments were honored.\n\nAs we underscored during the subsequent funding negotiations earlier this year, implementing comprehensive accountability and oversight reforms for ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is necessary both to protect the public and restore trust in the work of your agency. Our reform proposals are based upon the standards applicable to virtually every law enforcement agency inthe country (except immigration enforcement officers), including visibly displayed identification, no masks, and body-worn cameras.\n\nIn recent weeks, federal agents have aggressively ramped up enforcement operations, reportedly arresting thousands of immigrantsin a matter of days. Following the public backlash from these most recent fatal shootings, your Department has once again committed to distributing body-worn cameras, stating that every ICE arrest team will have at least one law enforcement officer equipped with a camera going forward and promising that all field offices will receive them within the next 60 days. Acting ICE Director Venturella also went on the record promising members of Congress that all field agents would be outfitted by the end of July. We view this timeline not as a projection, but as a firm, binding commitment to which we will hold the Department accountable.\n\nFurthermore, to strengthen public safety and minimize dangerous operational confusion, we urge an immediate policy change regarding agency branding. To help ensure clear accountability and avoid misleading the public, ICE personnel engaged in interior enforcement must immediately cease wearing tactical gear, vests, or uniforms labeled with the generic term \u201cPOLICE\u201d or \u201cPOLICEICE.\u201d All operational uniforms should explicitly and exclusively identify personnel as \u201cICE.\u201d In addition, agents should be required to identify themselves as \u201cICE\u201d when making arrests and uniforms must clearly be identified as \u201cICE.\u201d\n\nFinally, given the immediate need for administrative accountability following these tragedies, we request detailed information in response to the following questions:\n\n1. What is DHS\u2019s specific plan to respond to the public\u2019s interest in timely, transparent, and independently verified investigations into these incidents?\n\n2. What are the vetting procedures with respect to new ICE recruits? Does ICE consider records of domestic violence and abuse from family courts in its vetting?\n\n3. What immediate updates or reviews are being made to ICE vehicle pursuit and traffic stop policies, including enhancedtraining specifically applicable to traffic stops to ensure they prioritize public and officer safety?\n\n4. Beyond the deployment of body-worn cameras, what additional oversight, reporting requirements, or public safety measures is the agency implementing?\n\nWe remain supportive of removing dangerous convicted criminals from our communities, but this goal can and must be achieved without endangering these very communities in the process. By no stretch could either of the victims in Texas and Maine be characterized as \u201cthe worst of the worst,\u201d making these tragic deaths even more egregious. The American people deserve clarity and accountability. We urge you to honor your Department\u2019s earlier commitments and take immediate action to implement these necessary reforms. We also stand ready to work with you to codify reforms into law.\n\nWe look forward to hearing from you at the earliest possible date.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-walks-in-maine-potato-blossom-parade", "Senator Collins Walks in Maine Potato Blossom Parade", "2026-07-18", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.\n\nFORT FAIRFIELD, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins walked in the Maine Potato Blossom Parade in Fort Fairfield. The parade is the centerpiece of the 79th annual Maine Potato Blossom Festival, a nine-day celebration held as potato fields are in bloom to honor Aroostook County\u2019s proud agricultural heritage. Thousands of spectators lined the route to see members of local organizations, Maine Potato Blossom Queens, the Loring Job Corps Color Guard, and other community groups.\n\n\u201cFor nearly eight decades, the Maine Potato Blossom Festival has brought people together from across The County to celebrate our cherished farmers, families, and agricultural traditions that make this part of Maine so special,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cAs a native of Aroostook County, where my first job was picking potatoes for a local farmer, this festival has always felt like a celebration of home. It was a joy to walk in the Potato Blossom Parade, see so many familiar faces, and feel the community spirit that makes this event one of the highlights of a County summer.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-19T07:26:21Z", "2026-07-19T07:27:48Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-releases-letter-on-biddeford-shooting", "Senator Collins Releases Letter on Biddeford Shooting", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins today responded to a letter from Governor Janet Mills about the Biddeford shooting involving ICE personnel. In the letter, Senator Collins reiterated her call for a thorough, full, and impartial investigation of the shooting by the independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), aided by the Department of Justice, which she has encouraged to work with local law enforcement in Maine.\n\nSenator Collins also detailed the legislative reforms she ensured were enacted in this year\u2019s DHS appropriations process, including $20 million for body-worn cameras, a 17 percent increase in funding for the DHS OIG, and $2 million for de-escalation training.\n\nRead below or click here for the full letter text:\n\nDear Governor Mills:\n\nThank you for your July 15, 2026, letter in response to Monday\u2019s fatal shooting in Biddeford involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel. I share your heartbreak for the people of Maine regarding this tragic shooting and agree that we need answers as to what transpired. This is why I, along with the entire Maine delegation, called for a thorough, full, and impartial investigation by the independent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) into the shooting. Senator King and I also wrote a letter to the Department of Justice requesting that it cooperate with state and local law enforcement to ensure that federal investigations into this shooting remain impartial and comprehensive.\n\nAs you may know, in January of this year the House and Senate Appropriations Committees reached a bipartisan agreement on a Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. This bill included a number of accountability and transparency measures, such as additional funding for the DHS OIG, specific oversight of programs funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that I voted against, new de-escalation training requirements for ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, and Department-wide training for personnel on rights for the public to record encounters with ICE and CBP. After the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan negotiated bill, Democratic Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray praised these reforms. In a stunning pivot, congressional Democrats walked away from their own negotiated reforms triggering a shutdown of DHS \u2013 the longest shutdown in federal government history.\n\nOver the ensuing eight weeks, the White House engaged Senate Democrats to try to negotiate additional meaningful legislative reforms. The White House offered congressional Democrats the following measures:\n\nProhibiting DHS from using appropriated funds, including OBBBA funds, to block or stage detention facilities during congressional oversight visits;\n\nRequiring the use of body-worn cameras for all DHS law enforcement personnel performing civil immigration enforcement duties and providing an additional $100 million to procure cameras (for a total of $120 million);\n\nProhibiting DHS from knowingly detaining and deporting U.S. citizens during civil immigration enforcement activities;\n\nProhibiting civil immigration enforcement operations within sensitive locations, including schools and hospitals;\n\nRequiring visible numerical identification for officers conducting civil immigration enforcement activities or engaging within the public;\n\nRequiring ICE to notify local law enforcement before conducting large-scale civil immigration enforcement operations;\n\nRequiring de-escalation and use of force training of ICE officers and agents; and\n\nRequiring detention standards of DHS facilities to revert to the previous Administration\u2019s standards.\n\nYour letter highlights reforms similar to many of those that the White House proposed. Inexplicably, congressional Democrats rejected these reforms and instead chose to excise funding for ICE and U.S. Border Patrol from the annual appropriations process.\n\nDespite that decision, I worked hard to ensure that the final Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act retained many of the reforms that were negotiated in January. Included in the April law is $20 million for body-worn cameras, a seventeen percent increase in funding for the DHS OIG, and $2 million for de-escalation training. Unfortunately, the DHS shutdown delayed these reforms, and ICE is still waiting for the full deployment of the body-worn cameras and the completion of de-escalation training.\n\nNevertheless, the shootings this week, both in Maine and Texas, have raised serious questions and demand immediate action. This is why I have called for a halt in non-urgent traffic stops.\n\nWhile it is clear that ICE needs to improve its performance, it is important to remember that the work ICE does to protect our country goes far beyond immigration enforcement. ICE\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is tasked with combating cartels, human trafficking, drug smuggling, child exploitation, forced labor, and more. Eliminating ICE would make our country less safe and endanger the lives and welfare of countless individuals.\n\nSincerely,\n\nSusan M. Collins\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-key-nomination-hearing-king-challenges-potential-intelligence-head-on-ability-to-avoid-political-pressure", "In Key Nomination Hearing, King Challenges Potential Intelligence Head on Ability to Avoid Political Pressure", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, during a key hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) questioned the potential lead Intelligence official on his ability to resist political pressure. In his exchange with Office ofDirector of National Intelligence (ODNI) nominee Jay Clayton, King stressed the importance of analytical integrity and the obligation of intelligence officials to provide objective, fact-based assessments free from political influence.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cThere's been some discussion earlier about the importance of analytical integrity. Telling truth to power. The Intelligence Community directive, which goes back to more than a decade, says this, \u2018Any information from the Intelligence Community should be independent of political consideration. Analytic assessments must not be distorted by or shaped by advocacy of a particular audience or policy viewpoint. Analytic judgments must not be influenced by the force of preference for a particular policy.\u2019 Do you concur with that?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes,\u201d Mr. Clayton responded.\n\nSenator King asked, \u201cWho won the 2020 election?\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm not going to get into that,\u201d Mr. Clayton replied.\n\n\u201cCould you answer the question? Who won 2020 election? It\u2019s a simple question,\u201d Senator King repeated.\n\n\u201cMy answer to the Chairman, he asked me if I was an election denier. I am not an election denier. Joe Biden was certified as the President. He went through his process. We went through our electoral process. I can tell you, I was in my seat at the SEC\u2014,\u201d said Mr. Clayton.\n\n\u201cI am asking a really simple question. Who won 2020 election?\u201d Senator King repeated again.\n\n\u201cAs I said, we went through our processes and Joe Biden became the President of the United States,\u201d Mr. Clayton responded.\n\n\u201cThat is not an answer to the question. I am asking one more time. Who won the 2020 election?\u201d asked Senator King.\n\n\u201cI'm here to talk about my qualifications,\u201d replied Mr. Clayton.\n\n\u201cOne of your qualifications is to tell the truth to power and you will not answer reasonable questions,\u201d said Senator King.\n\n\u201cI've answered it many times,\u201d replied Mr. Clayton.\n\n\u201cYou have not answered that. Saying that Joe Biden was certified is not an answer,\u201d Senator King finished.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. He has repeatedly questioned Obama, Biden, and Trump Administration officials on their willingness to speak truth to power \u2013 even when the truth is politically inconvenient. Most recently, Senator King questioned an administration nominee on his independence and integrity \u2013 stressing that the nation\u2019s most significant national security mistakes occur when \u201cbiased\u201d information is given to leaders.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-delegation-calls-for-full-expedited-investigation-into-ice-fatal-shooting-in-maine", "Maine Delegation Calls for Full, Expedited Investigation into ICE Fatal Shooting in Maine", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden are calling for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Biddeford. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, the delegation requested an independent review of the incident to ensure a full accounting of the facts and help maintain public confidence in the investigative process.\n\n\u201cWe write to formally request that your office conduct a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel that occurred [yesterday/earlier this week] in Biddeford, Maine,\u201d the lawmakers began. \u201cAlong with our constituents, we are deeply saddened by this loss of life. The facts surrounding this tragedy remain a matter of significant local concern and necessitate a thorough, objective accounting.\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven the gravity of the situation and the understandable anxiety within the Biddeford community, we urge you to prioritize this investigation,\u201d they continued. \u201cTimely and factual answers will be critical to providing closure for the grieving community and ensuring that federal law enforcement operations are conducted safely, lawfully, and in a manner that respects public safety.\u201d\n\nThe complete text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Inspector General Cuffari:\n\nWe write to formally request that your office conduct a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel that occurred yesterday in Biddeford, Maine.\n\nAlong with our constituents, we are deeply saddened by this loss of life. The facts surrounding this tragedy remain a matter of significant local concern and necessitate thorough, objective accounting.\n\nTo ensure public trust, transparency, and accountability, we request that your office include the following key areas in your examination:\n\nThe Sequence of Events: A detailed timeline of the encounter, including the specific actions taken by both the ICE agents and the individual involved prior to the discharge of a firearm.\n\nOperational Protocols: An evaluation of whether the tactics, use, and degree of force utilized adhered strictly to current DHS and ICE use-of-force policies.\n\nRecording and Documentation: Clarification on the availability of audio, dashcam, or body-worn camera footage of the incident, and the status of any evidence preservation.\n\nFurthermore, we ask that you detail the extent to which DHS will collaborate with state or local agencies in carrying out the investigation.\n\nGiven the gravity of the situation and the understandable anxiety within the Biddeford community, we urge you to prioritize this investigation. Timely and factual answers will be critical to providing closure for the grieving community and ensuring that federal law enforcement operations are conducted safely, lawfully, and in a manner that respects public safety.\n\nWe look forward to your response and stand ready to work with your office to facilitate any necessary inquiries.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-latest-statement-on-biddeford-shooting", "Senator Collins\u2019 Latest Statement on Biddeford Shooting", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement regarding yesterday\u2019s shooting in Biddeford:\n\n\u201cI spoke with DHS Secretary Mullin last night and urged him to cease all non-urgent vehicle stops in the wake of yesterday\u2019s deadly Biddeford shooting. I am encouraged that the Department has agreed to do so.\n\n\u201cAn impartial investigation into the shooting in Biddeford needs to proceed, as the details surrounding this tragedy are important. It is extremely unfortunate that the agent involved did not have a body-worn camera. In April, measures that I authored in the Homeland Security funding bill became law, including $20 million for expanded use of body-worn cameras, $2 million for de-escalation training, and a 17% increase in the independent Office of Inspector General\u2019s budget to investigate matters such as this shooting. The Democratic government shutdown delayed enactment and implementation of these important safety measures.\n\n\u201cWhile it is clear ICE needs to improve its performance, it is important to remember that the work ICE does to protect our country goes far beyond immigration enforcement. ICE\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is tasked with combating cartels, human smuggling, child exploitation, forced labor, and more. Eliminating ICE would make our country less safe and endanger the lives and welfare of countless individuals.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-biddeford-shooting", "Senator Collins\u2019 Statement on Biddeford Shooting", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement after speaking with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin regarding yesterday\u2019s shooting in Biddeford:\n\n\u201cWhile the investigation of the Biddeford shooting is not yet complete, it raises sufficient critical questions that I spoke with DHS Secretary Mullin last night and urged him to cease all non-urgent vehicle stops.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-urge-doj-to-cooperate-with-maine-law-enforcement-in-biddeford-shooting-investigation", "Senators Collins, King Urge DOJ to Cooperate with Maine Law Enforcement in Biddeford Shooting Investigation", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan M. Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", "collins", "https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today requested that the Department of Justice (DOJ) collaborate with Maine state and local law enforcement as authorities investigate yesterday\u2019s fatal shooting in Biddeford involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel. In a letter to Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Senators emphasized that coordination among law enforcement agencies is essential to ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation.\n\n\u201cWe write to request that the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), cooperate with state and local law enforcement in the investigation of yesterday\u2019s fatal shooting in Biddeford, Maine, involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cWe understand that the FBI has opened an investigation into the shooting and is working with the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) Office of Inspector General as it investigates what happened. We appreciate these steps. The facts surrounding the shooting remain a matter of significant local and national concern, and it is important that these investigations provide clear answers as to what transpired yesterday,\u201d they continued. \u201cFederal law enforcement agencies must fully cooperate with state and local law enforcement throughout the investigations to give the public confidence that the inquiries have been conducted in a thorough, fair, and impartial manner.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the complete text of their letter.\n\nEarlier today, the Maine Delegation also sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) Inspector General calling for a full, transparent investigation into the shooting to help ensure public trust in the investigative process.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 289, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "ME", "p2": "2026"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ME&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 158, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ME&year=2026&party=Republican", "selected": false}, {"value": "Independent", "label": "Independent", "count": 131, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ME&year=2026&party=Independent", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ME&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 289, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2026", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ME&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "ME", "label": "ME", "count": 289, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2026", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ME&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "2026", "label": "2026", "count": 289, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ME", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2026-07-14,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecollins~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fsenators-collins-king-urge-doj-to-cooperate-with-maine-law-enforcement-in-biddeford-shooting-investigation", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=ME&year=2026&_next=2026-07-14%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecollins~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fsenators-collins-king-urge-doj-to-cooperate-with-maine-law-enforcement-in-biddeford-shooting-investigation&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 159.74182123318315, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}