press: releases: 614 rows where party = "Republican", state = "ME" and year = 2018 sorted by date descending

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614 rows where party = "Republican", state = "ME" and year = 2018 sorted by date descending

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url	title	date ▲	year	month	party	chamber	state	member_name	bioguide_id	domain	date_source	text	has_text	collected_at	updated_at
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-members-coast-guard-affected-partial-government-shutdown	Senator Collins Statement on Members of Coast Guard Affected by Partial Government Shutdown	2018-12-28	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Senator Collins' Statement on Members of Coast Guard Affected by Partial Government Shutdown Posted Fri, 12/28/2018 - 16:49 Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued this statement today regarding a separate payroll system that will prevent active-duty members of the Coast Guard from receiving pay for pre-shutdown work unless action is taken: Most federal employees will receive their scheduled paychecks today, but that is not the case for 42,000 Coast Guard members, who will not be paid for pre-shutdown work because they are under a different pay system.This is not fair. I called the White House to urge an immediate fix.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/sens-collins-king-and-rep-pingree-announce-contract-award-build-additional-destroyer-bath	Sens. Collins, King and Rep. Pingree Announce Contract Award to Build Additional Destroyer at Bath Iron Works.	2018-12-21	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Chellie Pingree announced today that the Navy is exercising its option under the fiscal years (FY) 2018-2022 multiyear procurement contract awarded in September to build an additional DDG-51 destroyer at Bath Iron Works (BIW) for $910,723,811. This FY 2019 option ship is in addition to four ships the Navy awarded the shipyard under the multiyear contract. U.S. Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer called Senators Collins and King and Representative Pingree to inform them of the award. The Navy's decision to build an additional DDG-51 at BIW is great news for the hardworking men and women at the shipyard. They can now spend the holidays with their families knowing that this additional ship will help keep the workload stable in the months and years ahead, said Senators Collins and King and Representative Pingree in a joint statement. The Navy's latest contract decision is a testament to the quality work being done at BIW to produce the backbone of today's Navy. We are extremely proud to represent the best shipbuilders in the world right here in Maine and work together to support them in Congress." In addition to the five DDG-51s already funded in FY 2018 and FY 2019, the delegation will seek to ensure that Congress provides the necessary funding and statutory authority for the Navy to procure the six additional DDG-51s called for under the multiyear contract and up to three additional option ships. Senator Collins is a senior member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representative Pingree is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. In September, Senators Collinsadvocated for the passage of the FY 2019 Defense Appropriations bill, which included funding for three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in FY 2019, while also including $250 million in advanced procurement funding for an additional destroyer in FY 2020. The legislation was signed into…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/bill-authored-collins-king-bolster-northern-border-regional-commission-signed-law	Bill Authored by Collins, King to Bolster the Northern Border Regional Commission Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced that the Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act was included in the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the 2018 Farm Bill. The legislation, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, was signed into law today. The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) funds grants for projects throughout northern and central Maine, as well as northern New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont, spurring economic and community development. In 2018, the NBRC awarded $2.9 million in grants for projects throughout Maine. The Northern Border Regional Commission is a critical source of investment for northern and central Maine, helping to grow the economy and create jobs, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. Our bipartisan bill will continue the NBRC's work to strengthen communities through projects that support business retention and expansion, infrastructure development, and increased access to high-speed telecommunications. Senators Collins and King have long advocated for the NBRC, and introduced the Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act in March 2018 with Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). This bipartisan legislation included in the 2018 Farm Bill extends the authorization of the NBRC for five years, increases the authorization to $33 million per year, and makes additional reforms to encourage business retention and expansion in northern Maine and distressed rural communities. The reauthorization will allow the NBRC to attract businesses from outside the United States as well as devote additional resources to encourage renewable energy development in the region. Additionally, the Northern Border Regiona…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/bipartisan-bill-support-young-beginning-farmers-and-ranchers-signed-law	Bipartisan Bill to Support Young & Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced that the Next Generation in Agriculture Act was included in the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill. This bipartisan bill will support programs that help new and beginning farmers and ranchers enter and remain in the industry, build the next generation of farmers, and feed the country and the world. Senators Collins and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) introduced The Next Generation in Agriculture Act in April. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the legislation. The legislation, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, was signed into law today. The Next Generation in Agriculture Act aims to ensure a younger generation of agriculture workers have the education and support they need to begin a career in farming and ranching. The average age of a farmer is 57 years old in both Maine and North Dakota, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Across the country, the share of farmers age 65 and older has increased from 14 percent in 1945, to more than 31 percent in 2012. The percentage of new farmers has declined since 1982, and without efforts to cultivate the next generation of farmers, rural economies could suffer. The future of our country's agriculture industry, a vital component of our economy, is dependent on energizing, supporting, and educating the next generation of farmers, said Senator Collins. Our legislation will ensure that new farmers and ranchers have the tools and firsthand experience necessary to become established in this field by facilitating apprenticeships with older farmers, assisting with the acquisition of land from retiring farmers, and providing critical entrepreneurship and business training. I look forward to seeing this important legislation become law. The Next Generation in Agriculture Act will give the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) more resour…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/bipartisan-legislation-improve-senior-nutrition-signed-law	Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Senior Nutrition Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob Casey (D-PA), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, announced that the Nourishing Our Golden Years Act is included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The legislation, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, was signed into law today. The Nourishing Our Golden Years Act will streamline the recertification process and reduce the administrative burden on states for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), also known as the Senior Food Box Program. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the legislation. Far too many seniors in Maine and across the nation find themselves forced to choose between buying food and buying prescription drugs or paying essential bills, said Chairman Collins. The Senior Food Box program provides qualified seniors with fruits, vegetables, and healthy non-perishable foods to fill this void. Our bipartisan legislation will not only make it easier for seniors to continue to receive the assistance, but it will simplify the process for state agencies that provide this critical support. The Senior Food Box Program reduces food insecurity in Americans age 60 and older by providing a monthly box of non-perishable items to program participants. Currently, participants must recertify every six months to remain in the program even though most participating seniors are on a fixed income and unlikely to experience fluctuations in eligibility. Participants who miss their deadline to recertify are no longer eligible to receive a food box and must reapply. The six-month recertification period poses a barrier to participation. The Nourishing Our Golden Years Act will lift this barrier by extending how often participants must recertify to once per year. This policy change would also minimize the administrative burden for bo…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-heitkamp-bipartisan-bill-help-identify-protect-human-trafficking-victims-be-signed	Collins, Heitkamp Bipartisan Bill to Help Identify, Protect Human Trafficking Victims to be Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Nearly 1/3 of Trafficked Women Saw a Health Care Professional While in Captivity Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today announced that their bipartisan legislation to help combat human trafficking passed unanimously in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House. The Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Act now heads to the President's desk for signature. The bipartisan bill will help make sure health care providers including doctors, nurses, and social workers have the training they need to help identify and protect victims of human trafficking. Studies suggest that nearly one-third of women trafficked in America saw a health care professional while they were still captive to these crimes. Additionally, increased training of health professionals to identify red flags of human trafficking could help make sure victims receive resources and services to get the protection and care they need. The SOAR Act will provide health care workers across the country with needed training on how to recognize, report, and potentially intervene when they see patients who are possible human trafficking victims. By expanding on a U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) pilot program pilot program, the Senators' bill will help provide training to a specific group of professionals who are more likely to encounter potential human trafficking victims to help get them the support they need. Every state in America is affected by the evils of sex trafficking.Human traffickers prey upon the most vulnerable, including homeless or runaway children.Identification is the first, and frequently missed, step in helping victims and stopping these atrocities, said Senator Collins.Senator Heitkamp has been a long-time leader on this issue and an excellent partner on this legislation, which will help ensure that health care providers have the training they need to help identify and protect victims of human trafficking.Her experience as North Dakota's chief law-enforcement officer …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/landmark-legislation-combat-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-be-signed-law	Landmark Legislation to Combat Alzheimers to be Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Approximately 5.5 million Americansand 28,000 Mainersare currently living with this disease Washington, D.C.- Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed theBuilding Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, legislation authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). This bipartisan bill will, for the first time, create a public health infrastructure across the country to combat Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain health. The BOLD Act alsopassed the Senate unanimouslyand now awaits the President's signature. Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest and most under-recognized public health threats of our time. Millions of Americans and thousands of Mainers are living with the disease, and that number is soaring as our overall population grows older and lives longer,said Senator Collins, a founder and Senate co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease. After decades of increasing investments in biomedical research for Alzheimer's, we are ready for the next step: to translate research into practice. The BOLD Act takes a multi-pronged public health approach that will create a modern infrastructure for the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer's and related dementias. I am proud of the overwhelming bipartisan support our legislation received in Congress and in communities across the nation. BOLD brings us to the brink of a brighter day for Alzheimer's, and I look forward to it being signed into law. The BOLD Act is the first step in addressing the ongoing public health crisis that is currently affecting more than five million Americans. I'm proud to have introduced this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues that will improve early detection and diagnosis, support caregivers and educate the public on Alzheimer's disease and brain health,said Senator Cortez Masto. This important legislation will support Nevadans struggling with Alzheimer's and their families andI will continue…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/library-museum-bill-senator-collins-introduced-bipartisan-group-be-signed-law	Library & Museum Bill Senator Collins Introduced with Bipartisan Group to be Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. - In a major victory for libraries, museums, and lifelong learning opportunities, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Their bill passed the Senate unanimously and now awaits the President's signature. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bob Casey (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). The Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 renews and builds on the $240 million commitment to the federal museum and library programs administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent federal agency that helps museums and libraries across the country advance their educational missions, deliver services, preserve history, and make their collections more accessible. The fact that Congress passed the bill by overwhelming margins sent a strong, bipartisan message on the importance of robustly supporting the federal agency that helps museums and libraries better serve their communities. IMLS supports programs at more than 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums nationwide. Public libraries and museums are central community institutions in Maine and throughout the country. Increasingly, libraries have emerged as hubs not just for literacy and Internet access, but for workforce support and community activities. The bipartisan Museum and Library Services Act represents a commitment to supporting libraries and museums that do more than accumulate artifacts they tell stories that enrich our communities and inspire the mi…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/major-victory-maine-maple-syrup-and-honey-producers-signed-law	Major Victory for Maine Maple Syrup and Honey Producers Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. - In a significant win for Maine's maple syrup and honey producers, a provision that builds upon U.S. Senator Susan Collins' (R-ME) work to prevent the enactment of a confusing labeling requirement was included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The legislation, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, was signed into law today. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins secured an amendment in the agriculture funding bill earlier this year to protect pure maple syrup and honey producers from a misguided Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule that would have required single-ingredient sweeteners to have an added sugar label.Under the requirement, all sugar in these products would have been denoted as added sugar. This could have misled consumers into believing that pure maple syrup includes added high fructose corn syrup or cane sugar. Senator Collins' amendment will still support public health and consumer awareness by retaining the FDA's ability to state the percent daily value of sugars the products contain. The Farm Bill builds on Senator Collins' efforts by including a provision that is virtually identical to her agriculture appropriations amendment. This commonsense provision, which mirrors an amendment I secured in the agriculture funding bill, will prevent the harmful consequences the FDA's labeling rule would have had on Maine's maple syrup and honey producers. Although the FDA's rule was well-intentioned, it would have created widespread consumer confusion and negatively affected many family-owned businesses, said Senator Collins. I am pleased that an overwhelming bipartisan majority of my colleagues joined me in advancing this provision to support this integral part of our agriculture community. In June, Senator Collins met with MaryAnne Kinney, the owner of Kinney Sugar House in Knox, who along with other producers informed Senator Collins how the FDA's proposed labeling rule would impact her b…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/provisions-authored-senators-collins-brown-support-local-farming-programs-signed-law	Provisions Authored by Senators Collins, Brown to Support Local Farming Programs Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. In a win for our nation's farmers and local food production, several provisions authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) from the Local Farms and Regional Market Supply (FARMS) Act were included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, was signed into law today. These provisions will provide important funding for several agricultural and health programs that connect farmers with local and regional markets, reduce barriers to entry for local producers, and leverage local resources for programs that combat food insecurity, said Senator Collins. I am pleased that an overwhelming bipartisan majority of my colleagues joined Senator Brown and me in advancing these provisions to support our agriculture community. When we make it easier to connect farmers to their communities, we don't just help individual farms we invest in entire local economies. I worked on this legislation after meeting with farmers, producers, and small businesses across my state. It builds on the important work we did in the 2008 and 2014 Farm Bill to grow these important programs, said Senator Brown. This bill will help farmers from around the state grow their bottom lines and sell more product at home in Ohio. "The inclusion of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) in the final 2018 Farm Bill sends a signal to family farmers and food-producing communities that their work is valued by policymakers in Washington, D.C. Making permanent investments in local and regional food systems through LAMP shows the growing value of these markets, the growth of which is needed now more than ever as farming and rural communities continue to struggle in a declining agricultural economy," said Wes King, Senior Policy Specialist at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC). "NSAC is very proud to have been one of LAMP's strongest allies during the farm bill negotiations, and we thank Senator Brown and Sen…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-bipartisan-bill-fight-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-be-signed-law	Senator Collins Bipartisan Bill to Fight Alzheimers to be Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Approximately 5.5 million Americansand 28,000 Mainersare currently living with this disease Washington, D.C. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed theBuilding Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, legislation authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). This bipartisan bill would, for the first time, create a public health infrastructure across the country to combat Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain health. The BOLD Act has alreadypassed the Senate unanimouslyand now awaits the President's signature. Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest andmost under-recognized public health threats of our time. Millions of Americans and thousands of Mainers are living with the disease, and that number is soaring as our overall population grows older and lives longer,said Senator Collins, a founder and Senate co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease. After decades of increasing investments in biomedical research for Alzheimer's, we are ready for the next step: to translate research into practice. The BOLD Act takes a multi-pronged public health approach that will create a modern infrastructure for the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer's and related dementias. I am proud of the overwhelming bipartisan support our legislation received in Congress and in communities across the nation. BOLD brings us to the brink of a brighter day for Alzheimer's, and I look forward to it being signed into law. At The Jackson Laboratory we are committed to helping to find treatments and even stop Alzheimer's before it starts. We're incredibly grateful for Senator Collins' leadership, which provides hope for the future. The new BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act will help to propel Alzheimer's and dementia into the forefront as a public health issue and enable further funding to accelerate research and development for this devastating disease,said Edison T. Liu, president & CE…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-legislation-ban-animal-fighting-united-states-signed-law	Senator Collins Legislation to Ban Animal Fighting in the United States Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) announced that the Parity in Animal Cruelty Enforcement (PACE) Act is included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The legislation, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representative with overwhelming bipartisan support, was signed into law today. In May, Senator Collins led a group of 27 Senators in introducing the PACE Act and in August, they sent a letter to the leadership on the Senate Agriculture Committee urging them to include the PACE Act in the 2018 Farm Bill. The PACE Act would protect animals from vicious cruelty, protect communities from criminal activity often linked to animal fighting such as drug trafficking and gang violence, reduce public health threats from bird flu and other diseases, and enhance enforcement of the federal animal fighting law across the United States. Animal fighting is a cruel activity that pits animals against each other, with animals often drugged to heighten their aggression and forced to keep fighting even after they have suffered grievous injuries, said Senator Collins. The PACE Act will clarify federal prohibitions on animal fighting activity and ensure they are extended to all U.S. jurisdictions, including U.S. territories. We are grateful Senator Collins worked in a bipartisan fashion to lead efforts to include the Parity in Animal Cruelty Enforcement (PACE) Act in the Farm Bill, Humane Society Legislative Fund President Sara Amundson said. This provision will ensure that current federal prohibitions on animal fighting activity are consistently applied in all U.S. jurisdictions including the U.S. territories, where cockfighting is often still openly displayed, and thereby protect animals from vicious cruelty, protect communities from other criminal activity often linked to animal fighting, and reduce threats to public health and the food supply from the transmission of bird flu and other diseases. In recent years, Congress has strengthened the federal animal fighting law on multiple occasions, including amendments in…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-legislation-help-strengthen-organic-farming-research-signed-law	Senator Collins Legislation to Help Strengthen Organic Farming Research Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) announced that the Agricultural Research Act of 2018, legislation she authored with Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), was included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The legislation, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, was signed into law today. Senators Collins and Casey's legislation will reauthorize and incrementally increase funding for USDA's Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) to ensure continued investment in organic agricultural research. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the legislation. Over the past five years, Maine's organic agriculture industry has grown by more than 75 percent with the support of the USDA's successful Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, said Senator Collins. Our legislation will strengthen federal investments in this important research program to help ensure farmers in Maine and across the country are equipped with the data, skills, and resources necessary to meet the increasing consumer demand for organic food. Specifically, the Organic Agricultural Research Act of 2018 willreauthorize OREI for an additional five years and gradually increase its funding from $40 million in fiscal year 2019 to $50 million in fiscal year 2023. This level of funding meets a critical threshold which makes the organic research provision a permanent part of the Farm Bill's Research Title moving forward. OREI is the flagship competitive organic research program at USDA, supporting applied research and extension projects that meet the needs of producers and processors that have adopted organic standards. The program helps organic and non-organic farmers alike by funding applied research projects that help growers improve their crop and livestock management skills, protect their produce from pests and diseases, ensure safe handling of fresh value-ad…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-legislation-support-maine-dairy-farmers-signed-law	Senator Collins Legislation to Support Maine Dairy Farmers Signed into Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. In a win for Maine dairy farmers, an amendment authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) that will promote innovation and increase demand for milk products was included in the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the legislation. The legislation, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, was signed into law today. Senators Collins' and Baldwin's amendment will provide $7 million for grants to state departments of agriculture, cooperative extension services, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations to administer programs that promote dairy product innovation, process improvement, and marketing. Senator Angus King (I-ME) was a cosponsor of their amendment. Our amendment will support Maine's hardworking dairy farmers by increasing awareness of milk's many health benefits and investing in innovative methods for processing milk and dairy products, said Senator Collins. I am pleased that an overwhelming bipartisan majority of my colleagues joined me in advancing this amendment that will help provide critical support to this integral part of our agriculture community. Maine's dairy farmers work hard to create a great product so let's help them sell it! said Senator King. The Dairy Business Innovation Act will establish regional initiatives to spur innovation in dairy businesses, which can help add more value to the milk farmers produce and expand uses for milk to address oversupply and depressed milk prices. The legislation will also foster the development of new and innovative dairy products, modernize existing dairy plants and support new dairy entrepreneurs. Specifically, the regional initiatives created by the Dairy Business Innovation Act will provide technical assistance and grants for the purpose of: Supporting new and expanding dairy busin…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-successfully-block-harmful-house-amendment-becoming-law	Senators Collins, King Successfully Block Harmful House Amendment from Becoming Law	2018-12-20	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. Following a push from U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), the final conference report of the 2018 Farm Bill does not include an amendment harmful to Maine that would have required state and local governments to accept products from other states even if those products violate standards and regulations enacted in the importing state. The Farm Bill, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, was signed into law today. In August, Senators Collins and King joined a bipartisan group of 32 Senators in sending a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee leaders urging them to reject this harmful House amendment during the conference negotiations. We are delighted that the Senate bill prevailed, and that the final conference report did not include this harmful provision, said Senators Collins and King. There are a number of state laws in Maine that would have been undermined if this amendment was adopted, including those on crate bans for livestock, consumer protections for blueberry inspections, and environmental safeguards for cranberry cultivation. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the legislation. The 2018 Farm Bill received overwhelming bipartisan support and passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13, and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-retirement-umaine-chancellor-james-page	Senator Collins Statement on the Retirement of UMaine Chancellor James Page	2018-12-19	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Senator Collins' Statement on the Retirement of UMaine Chancellor James Page Posted Wed, 12/19/2018 - 07:42 Washington, D.C. Following the announcement by James Page that he will be stepping down as Chancellor of the University of Maine System, U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) released this statement: Jim Page's tenure as Chancellor of the University of Maine System has brought about tremendous progress. Delivering a high quality, affordable education to students has always been Jim's number one priority. In particular, he led the One University initiative to transition the seven campuses to one system that delivers education to students more effectively and efficiently. He deserves credit and praise for his visionary leadership during a period of challenging demographics and economic constraints. I wish Jim and his wife Liane all the best and thank him for his service to the people of the State of Maine.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bipartisan-group-introducing-resolution-condemning-atrocities-against	Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Introducing Resolution Condemning Atrocities Against Rohingya in Burma	2018-12-19	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today in introducing a bipartisan resolution that highlights the horrific acts of violence against the Rohingya people in Burma. Underscoring the ongoing humanitarian crisis that followed the brutal crackdown by Burmese security elements in Rohingya communities in 2017, the resolution calls for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to make a determination on whether these crimes constitute genocide. Earlier this month, the Public International Law and Policy Group released a report detailing the atrocities and calling for tribunals for those responsible for the genocide. Additionally, an August United Nations report found that Myanmar's military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingyas with genocidal intent and made the case for prosecuting its commander-in-chief and five generals under international law. The Trump Administration has yet to label the crimes against the Rohingya a genocide, instead calling it ethnic cleansing. The well documented campaign of atrocities committed against the Rohingya people in Rakhine State appears to have been premediated and coordinated by Burmese military and security forces, and should be condemned by the international community for what it was: genocide. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled to Bangladesh amidst horrendous acts of violence and threats of violence, and these refugees carry with them unimaginable stories of cruelty and depravity, said Senator Collins. Our bipartisan resolution, which urges the Administration to make a determination on whether these crimes constitute genocide, would help garner continued international pressure on the Burmese military and government. This resolution also stresses the importance of imposing additional sanctions on senior Burmese officials complicit in carrying out the violence. It encourages Facebook and other social media platforms to counter hate speech that fomen…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-more-100000-passamaquoddy-tribe%E2%80%99s-economic-impact-study	Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $100,000 for Passamaquoddy Tribes Economic Impact Study	2018-12-19	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $100,000 for Passamaquoddy Tribe's Economic Impact Study Posted Wed, 12/19/2018 - 09:01 Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $100,000 to the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township to fund a study for a potential hydrogen-powered Business/Internet/Data Center on the Passamaquoddy reservation. Results of this study will identify the resources necessary for sustainable operationsincluding workforce development, capital, business management, legal services, and administrative supportwhich will help diversify the regional economy. This important funding from the EDA will assist the Passamaquoddy Tribe in assessing the feasibility of constructing a cutting-edge data center powered by clean energy, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We welcome the EDA's continued investment in Maine's tribal communities, which supports economic development and job creation. The EDA leads the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. As an agency within the Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-bipartisan-criminal-justice-reform-bill-backed-collins-king	Senate Passes Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Bill Backed by Collins, King	2018-12-18	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the U.S. Senate passed the FIRST Step Act, a bipartisan bill cosponsored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine), among others. The legislation, which passed by a vote of 87-12, would improve fairness in sentencing of federal crimes, promote public safety, and reduce recidivism. The bill was introduced by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and combines prison reform proposals that overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year with sentencing reform provisions from the broadly bipartisanSentencing Reform and Corrections Act, which Senator King cosponsored in July and was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year. The legislation has been endorsed by the President, has strong bipartisan support in Congress, and is supported by a wide range of law enforcement organizations and criminal justice reform advocates. The FIRST Step Act is modeled after the efforts by dozens of states that have successfully reformed their criminal justice systems to rehabilitate minimum- and low-risk offenders, said Senator Collins. This legislation will make our communities safer by reducing recidivism, give a second chance to people who have committed non-violent crimes, and save taxpayers money. Right now, our criminal justice system isn't working; not for those who spend decades in prison for nonviolent offenses, not for law enforcement officers, and not for taxpayers, said Senator King. But we can create a better criminal justice system, and today we took the first step towards a solution that works for all Americans. This bipartisan bill will make our communities safer, prepare inmates to be productive members of society, and save taxpayer money no wonder it has widespread support from across the ideological spectrum. The comprehensive package aims to reduce crime by helping low-risk inmates prepare to successfully rejoin society through participation in proven recidivism reduction and professional developme…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-falmouth-native-selected-senate-page-program	Senator Collins Announces Falmouth Native Selected to Senate Page Program	2018-12-18	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that she has nominated Falmouth native John Bishop Wahlig III for the United States Senate Page Program for the spring of 2019. John was appointed to the program by Senator Collins following a competitive selection process. He is the son of John and Jennifer Wahlig of Falmouth. I was proud to nominate John to the Senate Page Program, and I know he will do an exceptional job in this important role, said Senator Collins. John is a highly motivated student with an impressive record of academic achievement and involvement in extracurricular activities. This opportunity will provide him with a unique opportunity to witness the legislative process firsthand. John is deeply involved in his community and has received awards for his leadership and entrepreneurship. He is a junior at Falmouth High School, where he serves as the student advisor to the Maine State Legislature. In addition, John is the founder and president of the Falmouth Computer Programming Club; CEO of Itvara LLC, an iOS development company; and president and teacher at Falmouth Girls Code, an eight-week course on the basics of computer science and programming for elementary school girls. He is also a sailing instructor at the Portland Yacht Club. Senate pages must be high school juniors, at least sixteen years old, and attend school. Senate page duties consist primarily of delivery of correspondence and legislative material within the Capitol complex. Other duties include preparing the chamber for Senate sessions and carrying bills and amendments to the desk. Pages attend classes in the early morning at the United States Senate Page School, a program fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. With 30 pages per session, only the most senior members of the Senate can sponsor pages. Maine students who are interested in applying for future sessions of the Senate Page Program can do so through Senator Collins' website at: https://www.collins.senate.gov/services/students	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-senator-alexander%E2%80%99s-retirement	Senator Collins Statement on Senator Alexanders Retirement	2018-12-17	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. Following the announcement by U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) that he will not seek reelection in 2020, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) released this statement: Lamar Alexander is an extraordinarily effective member of the U.S. Senate, with a strong record of bipartisan accomplishments that take aim at the problems facing the American people. Simply put, he is a great Senator. Throughout his Senate service, Lamar has repeatedly demonstrated exemplary leadership on our nation's most pressing issues. From pursuing ways to make health insurance and health care more affordable, to authoring comprehensive legislation to combat the opioid epidemic, to improving our education system and strengthening the skills programs that help Americans get good jobs, Lamar has successfully forged bipartisan solutions that have improved the lives of millions of Americans. As a member of both the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which Lamar chairs, and the Appropriations Committee, on which we both serve, I have had the privilege of working closely with Lamar on a number of these issues. I have always valued his intelligence, his diligence, his mastery of policy details, his fairness, and most important, his friendship. I look forward to continuing to work with him over the next two years as he completes his term and adds to his outstanding record of public service.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-senator-collins-abc%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9C-week%E2%80%9D	ICYMI: Senator Collins on ABCs This Week	2018-12-16	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	ClickHEREto watch the interview Note to assignment editors and news directors: ClickHEREfor a high-resolution video Washington, D.C.- U.S. Senator Susan Collins appeared on ABC's This Week with host George Stephanopoulos. A transcript of the interview follows: This Week December 16, 2018 GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We are back with the Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine. Senator Collins, thank you for joining us this morning. SUSAN COLLINS (R), MAINE: My pleasure. STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's talk about health care. You heard Senator Durbin say that this judge's ruling is a real problem for Republicans now. What's your reaction to the judge's ruling? COLLINS: The judge's ruling was far too sweeping. He could have taken a much more surgical approach and just struck down the individual mandate and kept the rest of the law intact. I believe that it will be overturned. STEPHANOPOULOS: You say it's going to be overturned. He based his rulings, you said, on last year's tax bill which brought the tax penalty for violating that mandate down to zero and then he said that invalidated the whole law. Any second thoughts on your vote for that bill because of this? COLLINS: Not at all. I think it's important to keep in mind what the impact of the individual mandate was. Eighty percent of those who paid the penalty under the individual mandate earned less than $50,000 a year. So this disproportionately affected lower- and middle-income families. In addition, not one Democratic senator offered an amendment to strike the repeal of the individual mandate, although they had the opportunity to do so. And that's because it was probably the most unpopular and unfair provision of the Affordable Care Act. There are many good provisions of the law. Those should be retained. STEPHANOPOULOS: And you voted for this after being promised for more funding for lower premiums but that never happened. So what needs to happen with Obamacare now? COLLINS: Actually, we did bring a bill to the floor that would have reduced premiums in the indi…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-senator-collins-cnn%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Cstate-union%E2%80%9D	ICYMI: Senator Collins on CNNs State of the Union	2018-12-16	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	ClickHEREto watch the interview Note to assignment editors and news directors: ClickHEREfor a high-resolution video Washington, D.C.- U.S. Senator Susan Collins appeared on CNN's State of the Union with host Jake Tapper. A transcript of the interview follows: State of the Union December 16, 2018 JAKE TAPPER: Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine joins me now. She's a member on the Senate Intelligence Committee and she voted not to replace Obamacare in that famous voteor infamous depending on your point of view, I suppose. Thanks so much for being here.We appreciate it.So, millions of Americans, including everyone covered by Medicaid expansion and many with pre-existing conditions are going to lose their health insurance if this ruling is upheld. You voted for the repeal of the individual mandate as part of the tax reform bill last December. That's the basis of this judge's decision. You heard President Trump call this, quote, a great ruling for our country, do you agree? SUSAN COLLINS: I don't. First of all, I would point out that this really is not going to affect people who are currently enrolled in Obamacare policies or their policies for 2019. There is widespread support for protecting people with pre-existing conditions. There's also widespread opposition to the individual mandate, and here's why: The individual mandate penalties, 80% of people who paid the penalty earned under $50,000 a year. So, this hurt low- and middle-income families who couldn't afford the cost of health insurance, and it's telling that when the tax bill was on the floor, not a single Democratic Senator offered an amendment to strike the repeal of the individual mandate. That's how unpopular it was. I think this will be overturned on appeal. TAPPER: You do? COLLINS: I do. TAPPER: In the Supreme Court or fifth circuit or where do you think it's -? COLLINS: I'm not sure where it will occur, but there's no reason why the individual mandate provision can't be struck down and keep all of the good provisions of the Affordable Ca…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/honor-41st-president-and-first-lady-poliquin-proposes-coins-featuring	In Honor of 41st President and First Lady, Poliquin Proposes Coins Featuring George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush to Be Minted	2018-12-14	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02), a member of the House Financial Services Committee with jurisdiction over the U.S. Mint, is proposing a $1 coin be issued in honor of the late U.S. President George H. W. Bush, whose family shares deep roots in Maine's communities. His legislation also calls for a commemorative coin to be issued in honor of First Lady Barbara Bush. Both President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush hold a special place in the hearts of so many Mainers, said Congressman Poliquin. President Bush was a World War II hero, a family man, and a true statesman, while First Lady Bush was an inspiration to Americans across our Nation and truly embodied the warmth and strength of our country. Their lives should be recognized and celebrated by generations of Mainers to come and it's my hope their inclusion in the Presidential $1 Coin Program will be a fitting tribute to their legacies. The U.S. Congress created the Presidential $1 Coin Program in 2005 under the Presidential $1 Coin Act. Under the program, all deceased presidents are featured in separate issuances on the $1 coin. In addition, each deceased first lady is featured on a commemorative gold coin. Congressman Poliquin's legislation would direct the U.S. Treasury Secretary to include President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush into the program in 2019.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/provisions-authored-senators-collins-brown-support-local-farming-programs-be-signed-law	Provisions Authored by Senators Collins, Brown to Support Local Farming Programs to Be Signed into Law	2018-12-14	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. In a win for our nation's farmers and local food production, several provisions authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) from the Local Farms and Regional Market Supply (FARMS) Act were included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support and now awaits the President's signature. These provisions will provide important funding for several agricultural and health programs that connect farmers with local and regional markets, reduce barriers to entry for local producers, and leverage local resources for programs that combat food insecurity, said Senator Collins. I am pleased that an overwhelming bipartisan majority of my colleagues joined Senator Brown and me in advancing these provisions to support our agriculture community. When we make it easier to connect farmers to their communities, we don't just help individual farms we invest in entire local economies. I worked on this legislation after meeting with farmers, producers, and small businesses across my state. It builds on the important work we did in the 2008 and 2014 Farm Bill to grow these important programs, said Senator Brown. This bill will help farmers from around the state grow their bottom lines and sell more product at home in Ohio. "The inclusion of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) in the final 2018 Farm Bill sends a signal to family farmers and food-producing communities that their work is valued by policymakers in Washington, D.C. Making permanent investments in local and regional food systems through LAMP shows the growing value of these markets, the growth of which is needed now more than ever as farming and rural communities continue to struggle in a declining agricultural economy," said Wes King, Senior Policy Specialist at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC). "NSAC is very proud to have been one of LAMP's strongest allies during the farm bill negotiations, and we thank Senator Brown …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-unanimously-passes-collins-king-resolution-marking-december-15-2018-%E2%80%9Cwreaths-across	Senate Unanimously Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 15, 2018, as Wreaths Across America Day	2018-12-14	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. - The Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King designating Saturday, December 15, 2018, as Wreaths Across America Day. On December 15, a convoy of volunteers is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery to lay Maine-made balsam wreaths at the headstones of American veterans interred there. Patriot Guard Riders will once again continue their tradition of escorting the wreath trucks from Maine down the East Coast, along with other patriotic escorts including motorcycle units, law enforcement officers, and first responders. Tens of thousands of volunteers are expected to participate in this proud tradition. In its 27-year history, Wreaths Across America has become an enduring symbol of valor and sacrifice, and reaffirms our never-ending obligation to thank those who served in defense of our nation, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This Maine-led tradition is an inspiring example of the generosity and gratitude to our nation's veterans that makes the holiday season so special. We are grateful for the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who Remember, Honor, Teach' through Wreaths Across America. To honor our fallen heroes, wreaths will be laid at the graves of American servicemembers as part of a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place approximately 1.2 million wreaths at more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states and numerous national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil. For the first time this year, wreaths will be laid at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. The resolution is available HERE.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/farm-bill-includes-major-victory-maine-maple-syrup-and-honey-producers	Farm Bill Includes Major Victory for Maine Maple Syrup and Honey Producers	2018-12-13	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. - In a significant win for Maine's maple syrup and honey producers, a provision that builds upon U.S. Senator Susan Collins' (R-ME) work to prevent the enactment of a confusing labeling requirement was included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The legislation passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support and now awaits the President's signature. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins secured an amendment in the agriculture funding bill earlier this year to protect pure maple syrup and honey producers from a misguided Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule that would have required single-ingredient sweeteners to have an added sugar label.Under the requirement, all sugar in these products would have been denoted as added sugar. This could have misled consumers into believing that pure maple syrup includes added high fructose corn syrup or cane sugar. Senator Collins' amendment will still support public health and consumer awareness by retaining the FDA's ability to state the percent daily value of sugars the products contain. The Farm Bill builds on Senator Collins' efforts by including a provision that is virtually identical to her agriculture appropriations amendment. This commonsense provision, which mirrors an amendment I secured in the agriculture funding bill, will prevent the harmful consequences the FDA's labeling rule would have had on Maine's maple syrup and honey producers. Although the FDA's rule was well-intentioned, it would have created widespread consumer confusion and negatively affected many family-owned businesses, said Senator Collins. I am pleased that an overwhelming bipartisan majority of my colleagues joined me in advancing this provision to support this integral part of our agriculture community. In June, Senator Collins met with MaryAnne Kinney, the owner of Kinney Sugar House in Knox, who along with other producers informed Senator Collins how the FDA's proposed labeling rule would impac…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-landmark-legislation-combat-alzheimer%E2%80%99s	Senate Passes Landmark Legislation to Combat Alzheimers	2018-12-13	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, legislation authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). This bipartisan bill would, for the first time, create a public health infrastructure across the country to combat Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain health. The BOLD Act now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest and under-recognized public health threats of our time. Five and a half million Americans are living with the disease, and that number is soaring as our overall population grows older and lives longer, said Senator Collins, a founder and Senate co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease. After decades of increasing investments in biomedical research for Alzheimer's, we are ready for the next step: to translate research into practice. The BOLD Act takes a multi-pronged public health approach that would create a modern infrastructure for the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer's and related dementias. The bipartisan BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act will fund and promote early diagnosis, effective intervention, and better treatment options and establish Centers of Excellence to educate the public and professionals on the illness. I'm proud to support this bipartisan effort to support doctors, caregivers and all those working to improve the quality of life and finally find a cure for people suffering the effects of Alzheimer's and related cognitive disorders, said Senator Cortez Masto. To prevent millions of more Americans and their families from being devastated by Alzheimer's, we have to tackle this disease on all fronts. The BOLD Act helps us do that by empowering our federal and state public health infrastructure to play an expanded role and by helping us gain a better understanding of the true scope of the disease, Senator Ca…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-unanimously-passes-senator-collins%E2%80%99-bipartisan-bill-fight-alzheimer%E2%80%99s	Senate Unanimously Passes Senator Collins Bipartisan Bill to Fight Alzheimers	2018-12-13	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, legislation authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). This bipartisan bill would, for the first time, create a public health infrastructure across the country to combat Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain health. The BOLD Act now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest and under-recognized public health threats of our time. Five and a half million Americans are living with the disease, and that number is soaring as our overall population grows older and lives longer, said Senator Collins, a founder and Senate co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease. After decades of increasing investments in biomedical research for Alzheimer's, we are ready for the next step: to translate research into practice. The BOLD Act takes a multi-pronged public health approach that would create a modern infrastructure for the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer's and related dementias. On behalf of the millions of Americans affected by Alzheimer's disease, we want to thank Senator Collins for her steadfast leadership in the fight to end Alzheimer's, said Alzheimer's Association Chief Public Policy Officer, Robert Egge. The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act is innovative legislation that will allow our nation to address Alzheimer's as the urgent public health crisis that it is. We appreciate Senator Collins and the more than half of Congress who followed her lead in cosponsoring the bill for recognizing the impact this devastating disease has on our nation, and for taking decisive action to change the trajectory of this disease. "We are grateful to Sen. Collins for her leadership to address the growing Alzheimer's crisis here in Maine and across the country. The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act is important …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bipartisan-group-introducing-amendment-prohibit-resumption-refueling	Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Introducing Amendment to Prohibit Resumption of Refueling of Saudi Coalition Aircraft in Yemen Civil War	2018-12-13	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. - Today, coinciding with votes related to Senate Joint Resolution 54(S.J.Res.54), U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Todd Young (R-IN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Chris Coons (D-DE)introduced a bipartisan amendment to prohibit the resumption of U.S. air refueling of Saudi coalition aircraft engaged in the civil war in Yemen. In response to the argument that the U.S. is not engaged in hostilities in Yemen and that air refueling does not constitute hostilities, this amendment would explicitly make clear that the term hostilities in S.J.Res.54 includes U.S. air refueling of Saudi coalition aircraft. The time has come to confront one of our allies in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, over the Saudi-led war in Yemen, which has become a humanitarian disaster,said Senator Collins.This bipartisan legislation will place further pressure on all parties to bring hostilities in Yemen to a swift end. On April 11, Senators Collins, Young, Shaheen, and Coonsintroduced Senate Joint Resolution 58(S.J.Res.58)and then worked to include a version of that legislation in the annual defense bill signed into law by President Trump.Section 1290of theJohn S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 requires the Secretary of State to submit written, detailed, and unclassified certifications related to the efforts of the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to end the civil war, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and protect civilians.If the Secretary of State cannot make these certifications, the law prohibits the U.S. from refueling Saudi coalition aircraft conducting missions exclusively focused on the civil war. When the Secretary of State submitted a questionable certification to Congress pursuant to Section 1290, the Senators wrote Secretary Pompeoand asked for a clarification. On November 9,following months of pressure, the administrationannouncedthe suspension of U.S. refueling of Saudi coalition aircraft in Yemen. However, nothing prevents the resumption of that ref…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-votes-resolution-end-us-support-saudi-led-war-yemen	Senator Collins Votes for Resolution to End U.S. Support for Saudi-Led War in Yemen	2018-12-13	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Following passage of the War Powers resolution, the Senate unanimously adopted a resolution attributing the responsibility of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salaman and calling for appropriate accountability Washington, D.C.In response to the humanitarian disaster in Yemen, U.S. Senator Susan Collins voted in favor of Senate Joint Resolution (S.J. Res. 54), which uses the 1973 War Powers Resolution to compel the withdrawal of U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. The resolution passed by a vote of 56-41. The devastating war in Yemen has created a humanitarian crisis that threatens the lives of millions of innocent civilians, said Senator Collins. Earlier this year, I voted to advance debate on this resolution to confront Saudi Arabia for its actions that have contributed to this crisis, and I am pleased that a bipartisan majority of my colleagues have joined me today in pressuring all parties to bring hostilities in Yemen to an end. The passage of this resolution sends a strong message in defense of American values that the U.S. will not tolerate Saudi Arabia's abhorrent record on human rights. The conflict in Yemen has killed thousands of civilians, and Saudi obstruction of humanitarian relief has caused a famine that has left millions more on the verge of starvation. Additionally, human rights experts have accused both the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels of violating international law. Saudi Arabia's exacerbation of the devastation in Yemen builds on its egregious record of human rights abuses, including the atrocious murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October. Excluding counterterrorism operations, U.S. forces currently provide intelligence sharing and targeting assistance to the Saudi-coalition against the Houthis in Yemen. This resolution would prohibit U.S. military support for Saudi Arabia's activities in Yemen's civil war, except in the case of operations against al Qaeda or associated terrorist forces. Additionally, along with Senators Todd …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/poliquin-helps-pass-bipartisan-farm-bill-supporting-maine-forestry	Poliquin Helps Pass Bipartisan Farm Bill, Supporting Maine Forestry Workers, Broadband Development, and Maine Farmers	2018-12-12	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON Today, Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) helped pass major legislation in the House that will support Maine's forestry workers, rural broadband development, and Maine farmers. The final Farm Bill, which passed by a wide 369-47 margin in the U.S House of Representatives, includes key provisions of the Timber Innovation Act, legislation Congressman Poliquin cosponsored that would help spur new uses for cross-laminated timber (CLT) in tall wood building constructionbuildings of about seven stories or higher, or 85 feet and above. There have already been two separate CLT producers that have announced new projects in Maine, LignaTerra Global and SmartLam, LLC of Montana. The final bill also includes improvements to broadband delivery and a large increase in funding for broadband deployment, which is chiefly administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In September, Congressman Poliquin hosted USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue in Farmington, Maine for a roundtable focusing on access to reliable broadband in rural Maine. The final bill also allows for states like Maine to maintain their own laws and policies concerning the regulation of local foods, a win for Maine's local farmers. Congressman Poliquin has consistently voted to support states' rights to maintain their own policies on local foods. With some of the most expansive and dependable working forests in the nation, Maine is America's wood basket, said Congressman Poliquin. Generations of hardworking Mainers have made their living in this industry. I'm proud to strongly support our wood products workers and allow for continued research into technologies that will help the industry grow and prosper for our next generation. In addition, this bill will drastically increase funding for rural broadband development. When I hosted Secretary Perdue in Farmington this year, our conversations with Maine hospital workers, law enforcement officers and community leaders centered around the importance of broadband access in our rural areas. This …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/effort-senators-collins-king-ensures-harmful-house-amendment-not-farm-bill	Effort from Senators Collins, King Ensures Harmful House Amendment Not in Farm Bill	2018-12-12	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	House Amendment would have required states to accept agriculture products that may violate state and locals laws. Washington, D.C. Following a push from U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), the final conference report of the 2018 Farm Bill does not include an amendment harmful to Maine that would have required state and local governments to accept products from other states even if those products violate standards and regulations enacted in the importing state. The Farm Bill passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13 and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. In August, Senators Collins and King joined a bipartisan group of 32 Senators in sending a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee leaders urging them to reject this harmful House amendment during the conference negotiations. We are delighted that the Senate bill prevailed, and that the final conference report did not include this harmful provision, said Senators Collins and King. There are a number of state laws in Maine that would have been undermined if this amendment was adopted, including those on crate bans for livestock, consumer protections for blueberry inspections, and environmental safeguards for cranberry cultivation. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the legislation. The 2018 Farm Bill received overwhelming bipartisan support and passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13, and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/farm-bill-passes-senate-includes-provisions-authored-senator-collins-benefit-maine-farmers	Farm Bill Passes Senate, Includes Provisions Authored by Senator Collins to Benefit Maine Farmers	2018-12-12	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Farm Bill Passes Senate, Includes Provisions Authored by Senator Collins to Benefit Maine Farmers Posted Tue, 12/11/2018 - 18:24 Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the Senate passed the 2018 Farm Bill by an overwhelming bipartisan margin of 87-13. The legislation, which includes a number of provisions Senator Collins authored to support Mainers employed in the agriculture industry, now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Our agriculture industry is an integral part of our economy and continues to be the lifeblood of countless rural communities. Thousands of Mainers are employed on farms, and the myriad products they produce, ranging from potatoes to dairy to maple syrup, are renowned for their superior quality and taste. Maine farmers work tirelessly every day to meet the growing demand for locally grown and raised products, and this legislation will provide them with the support they need to continue to thrive. Provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill include: The Next Generation in Agriculture Act, introduced with Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), will give the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) more resources to help young and beginning farmers become established in the field of agriculture. Click HERE to read more; The Organic Agricultural Research Act of 2018, introduced with Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), will reauthorize the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative for an additional five years and gradually increase its funding from $40 million in fiscal year 2019 to $50 million in fiscal year 2023. The Nourishing Our Golden Years Act, introduced with Senator Casey, will reduce the administrative barriers for low-income seniors participating in the Senior Food Box Program, which reduces food insecurity. Click HERE to read more. The Northern Border Regional Commiss…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-legislation-help-strengthen-organic-farming-research-included-2018-farm	Senator Collins Legislation to Help Strengthen Organic Farming Research Included in 2018 Farm Bill	2018-12-12	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) announced that the Agricultural Research Act of 2018, legislation she authored with Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), was included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The 2018 Farm Bill received overwhelming bipartisan support and passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13, and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senators Collins and Casey's legislation will reauthorize and incrementally increase funding for USDA's Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) to ensure continued investment in organic agricultural research. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the legislation. Over the past five years, Maine's organic agriculture industry has grown by more than 75 percent with the support of the USDA's successful Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, said Senator Collins. Our bill will strengthen federal investments in this important research program to help ensure farmers in Maine and across the country are equipped with the data, skills, and resources necessary to meet the increasing consumer demand for organic food. Serious investment in organic agricultural research is essential to the strength of American agriculture, said Senator Casey. This legislation will help ensure that organic and conventional farms in communities across the country have the tools they need to continue to grow. I'm pleased that my colleagues have supported this important legislation so that we can build upon the growth we've seen for a number of years. Specifically, the Organic Agricultural Research Act of 2018 willreauthorize OREI for an additional five years and gradually increase its funding from $40 million in fiscal year 2019 to $50 million in fiscal year 2023. This level of funding meets a critical threshold which makes the organic research provision a permanent part of the Farm Bill's Research Title moving forward. OREI is the fl…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-legislation-support-maine-dairy-farmers-passes-senate	Senator Collins Legislation to Support Maine Dairy Farmers Passes Senate	2018-12-12	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. In a win for Maine dairy farmers, an amendment authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) that will promote innovation and increase demand for milk products was included in the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the legislation. The 2018 Farm Bill received overwhelming bipartisan support and passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13, and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senators Collins and Baldwin's amendment will provide $7 million for grants to state departments of agriculture, cooperative extension services, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations to administer programs that promote dairy product innovation, process improvement, and marketing. Senator Angus King (I-ME) was a cosponsor of their amendment. Our amendment will support Maine's hardworking dairy farmers by increasing awareness of milk's many health benefits and investing in innovative methods for processing milk and dairy products, said Senator Collins. I am pleased that an overwhelming bipartisan majority of my colleagues joined me in advancing this amendment that will help provide critical support to this integral part of our agriculture community. Maine's dairy farmers work hard to create a great product so let's help them sell it! said Senator King. The Dairy Business Innovation Act will establish regional initiatives to spur innovation in dairy businesses, which can help add more value to the milk farmers produce and expand uses for milk to address oversupply and depressed milk prices. The legislation will also foster the development of new and innovative dairy products, modernize existing dairy plants and support new dairy entrepreneurs. Specifically, the regional initiatives created by the Dairy Business Innovation Act will provide technical assistance and grants for the purpose of: Supporting new and …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/bill-authored-collins-king-bolster-northern-border-regional-commission-clears-key-hurdle	Bill Authored by Collins, King to Bolster the Northern Border Regional Commission Clears Key Hurdle	2018-12-11	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	In 2018, the NBRC awarded $2.9 million in grants for projects throughout Maine. Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced that the Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act was included in the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the 2018 Farm Bill. The legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support and passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13, and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) funds grants for projects throughout northern and central Maine, as well as northern New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont, spurring economic and community development. In 2018, the NBRC awarded $2.9 million in grants for projects throughout Maine. The Northern Border Regional Commission is a critical source of investment for northern and central Maine, helping to grow the economy and create jobs, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. Our bipartisan bill will continue the NBRC's work to strengthen communities through projects that support business retention and expansion, infrastructure development, and increased access to high-speed telecommunications. Senators Collins and King have long advocated for the NBRC, and introduced the Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act in March 2018 with Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). This bipartisan legislation included in the 2018 Farm Bill extends the authorization of the NBRC for five years, increases the authorization to $33 million per year, and makes additional reforms to encourage business retention and expansion in northern Maine and distressed rural communities. The reauthorization will allow the NBRC to attract businesses from outside the United States as well as devote additional resource…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/bipartisan-legislation-improve-senior-nutrition-included-2018-farm-bill	Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Senior Nutrition Included in 2018 Farm Bill	2018-12-11	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob Casey (D-PA), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, announced that the Nourishing Our Golden Years Act is included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The 2018 Farm Bill received overwhelming bipartisan support and passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13, and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Nourishing Our Golden Years Act will streamline the recertification process and reduce the administrative burden on states for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), also known as the Senior Food Box Program. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the legislation. Far too many seniors in Maine and across the nation find themselves forced to choose between buying food and buying prescription drugs or paying essential bills, said Chairman Collins. The Senior Food Box program provides qualified seniors with fruits, vegetables, and healthy non-perishable foods to fill this void. Our bipartisan legislation will not only make it easier for seniors to continue to receive the assistance, but it will simplify the process for state agencies that provide this critical support. I am pleased that the Nourishing Our Golden Years Act will be signed into law. This bill will strengthen the senior food box program, which is a vital tool for ensuring older adults have enough to eat said Ranking Member Casey. Every day, millions of seniors, in Pennsylvania and throughout the country, don't know where their next meal will come from. Older Americans have worked hard their entire lives and this bill will help ensure seniors do not struggle in their golden years for something as basic as having food to eat. The Senior Food Box Program reduces food insecurity in Americans age 60 and older by providing a monthly box of non-perishable items to program participants. Currently, participants must …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-bipartisan-bill-support-young-beginning-farmers-and-ranchers	Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Support Young & Beginning Farmers and Ranchers	2018-12-11	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced that the Next Generation in Agriculture Act was included in the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill. This bipartisan bill will support programs that help new and beginning farmers and ranchers enter and remain in the industry, build the next generation of farmers, and feed the country and the world. Senators Collins and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) introduced The Next Generation in Agriculture Act in April. The final agreement comes after the Senate and House of Representatives worked for weeks to reconcile the differences between each chamber's version of the legislation. The 2018 Farm Bill received overwhelming bipartisan support and passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13, and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Next Generation in Agriculture Act aims to ensure a younger generation of agriculture workers have the education and support they need to begin a career in farming and ranching. The average age of a farmer is 57 years old in both Maine and North Dakota, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Across the country, the share of farmers age 65 and older has increased from 14 percent in 1945, to more than 31 percent in 2012. The percentage of new farmers has declined since 1982, and without efforts to cultivate the next generation of farmers, rural economies could suffer. The future of our country's agriculture industry, a vital component of our economy, is dependent on energizing, supporting, and educating the next generation of farmers, said Senator Collins. Our legislation will ensure that new farmers and ranchers have the tools and firsthand experience necessary to become established in this field by facilitating apprenticeships with older farmers, assisting with the acquisition of land from retiring farmers, and providing critical entrepreneurship and business training. I look forward to seeing this important legislation become law. The Next Generation in Agriculture Act will give the U.S. Department of Agricul…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-participates-wreaths-across-america-ceremony-us-capitol	Senator Collins Participates in Wreaths Across America Ceremony at U.S. Capitol	2018-12-10	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for high-resolution photos of Senator Collins Washington, D.C. This morning, U.S. Senator Susan Collins participated in the Wreaths Across America wreath laying ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. Beginning in 2007, and each December since, Wreaths Across America, based in Columbia Falls, Maine, has placed a remembrance wreath at the Capitol. The wreath is adorned with flags representing each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as the POWs/MIA flag, and it is decorated with a red bow. During the ceremony, which coincided with similar ceremonies at all 50 state capitols across the country, Senator Collins delivered remarks and joined in a moment of silence to reflect on the holiday season and to honor and remember our nation's veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices. Wreaths Across America is a powerful demonstration of respect and appreciation for our veterans both those that we've lost and those still with us, said Senator Collins. This is the work of many volunteers, many supporters, and many hands. I am so proud that this heartfelt expression of gratitude originated in the great State of Maine. We Mainers have always had special affection for those who have served. Thanks to the spirit of this tradition, we will remember and honor America's veterans this holiday season, while also teaching generations to come of the sacrifices that have been made to secure our freedoms and to defend our liberty. A convoy of volunteers and thousands of Maine-made balsam wreaths departed from Maine yesterday, December 9th, and are stopping at schools and community groups for assemblies and other events. Senator Collins spoke at the convoy stop in Ellsworth Sunday morning. The wreaths are scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery on December 15th. Thousands of volunteers are expected to lay the wreaths at the graves of each American veteran. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place approximately 1.2 million wreaths at more than 1,200 loc…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-receives-affordability-champion-award-council-affordable-health-coverage	Senator Collins Receives Affordability Champion Award from Council for Affordable Health Coverage	2018-12-10	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins Washington, D.C. The Council for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC) honored U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, with the Affordability Champion Award for her work to lower health care costs through bipartisan, commonsense solutions. Policymakers rely on the expertise and analysis that the Council for Affordable Health Coverage provides to determine what reforms can reduce health care costs and increase coverage, said Senator Collins. I welcome your continued efforts to help us reduce these unacceptable costs and ensure more people have access to coverage, and I am honored to have been selected as an Affordability Champion. Senator Collins has been a champion for lower health costs and access to quality health coverage in every sense of the word. When the debate over the Affordable Care Act was at its most rancorous, it was Senator Collins who reached across the aisle, partnering with Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) on commonsense market stabilization solutions including a reinsurance proposal that we estimated would have lowered average premiums by 9 to 11 percent. Senator Collins has also worked with Democrats and Republicans alike on CAHC-supported legislation to protect Mainers from seeing their shifts and wages cut under the healthcare law and, as Chairwoman of the Special Committee on Aging, has been a tireless and thoughtful advocate for quality care for our nation's seniors. We could not be prouder to bestow her with this well-deserved honor, said CAHC President Joel White. As the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, Senator Collins has made it a priority to lower the soaring costs of prescription drugs. In October, Senator Collins' legislation to prohibit the use of pharmacy gag clauses was signed into law after passing both the House of Representatives and the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. The Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act prohibits an egregious practice that concealed lower prescription d…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-delivers-remarks-wreaths-across-america-convoy-stop-ellsworth	Senator Collins Delivers Remarks at Wreaths Across America Convoy Stop in Ellsworth	2018-12-09	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	ClickHERE,HERE, andHEREfor high-resolution photos Ellsworth, ME Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at the Wreaths Across America convoy stop in Ellsworth at the Maine Coast Mall.Approximately 750 veterans, Gold Star families, local community members, families, and business owners were estimated to attend the event. Since the Wreaths Across America tradition began in 1992, more than six million wreaths have been placed at national cemeteries and veterans memorials in every state and overseas, wherever American heroes lie at rest.This remarkable effort is made possible by trucking companies across the nation who donate their services and by the generosity of thousands of volunteers and supporters,said Senator Collins.Thanks to the spirit of this Maine-made tradition, we remember and honor America's veterans this holiday season, while also teaching the generations to come of the sacrifices that have been made to secure a future of peace and liberty. The convoy of volunteers and thousands of Maine-made balsam wreaths began on Saturday inLubecand will make several stops in Maine before departing the state tonight.They are scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery on December 15.In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place approximately 1.2 million wreaths at more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states and numerous national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil.For the first time this year, wreaths will be laid at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial inColleville-sur-Mer, France. A mobile Vets Center unit, a free program supporting veterans as they readjust to life after deployment, was available to veterans during today's event.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bipartisan-group-urging-department-energy-stop-unnecessary-delays	Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Urging Department of Energy to Stop Unnecessary Delays Over Weatherization Program Funding	2018-12-07	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry regarding delayed guidance and documentation for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Senator Collins is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. The letter comes after the Department of Energy (DOE) missed an important deadline to deliver information concerning state allocations to WAP grantees. Persistent delays in this guidance could impact critical funding for states whose WAP programs begin in the early spring. The Weatherization Assistance Program helps lower energy costs for low-income families, seniors, veterans and individuals with disabilities by making energy efficiency modifications to their homes. We appreciate the commitment you made on April 11, 2018, before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development to fund WAP consistent with Congressional intent and urge you to release these final guidance documents without delay, the Senators wrote. The first step in the WAP funding process is the Department's release of grant guidance and management information to assist grantees in developing state plans for the upcoming program year. In the enclosed memorandum dated September 25, 2018, DOE announced that this guidance was to be released on November 30, 2018. As of the date of this letter, DOE has failed to release these guidance documents or state allocations for FY 2019, the Senators continued. We urge DOE to release the FY 2019 WAP guidance and state allocations no later than December 7, 2018, in order to avoid unnecessary delays in services to low-income families and seniors who rely on the energy savings from this program. In their letter, the Senators highlighted that Congress provided a $6 million increase in funding for WAP through the annual appropriations bill that was signed into law earlier this fall and directed the …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-join-group-senators-introducing-legislation-honor-wwii-cadet-nurses	Senators Collins, King Join Group of Senators in Introducing Legislation to Honor WWII Cadet Nurses	2018-12-07	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Bill Text \| One-Pager Washington, DC U.S Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Steve Daines (R-MT) in introducing the U.S Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act, bipartisan legislation to honor women who served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII with honorary veteran status. The bill, which comes on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, would recognize former Cadet Nurses' service to our country and provide them with honorable discharges, ribbon and medal privileges, and burial privileges. The bill will be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-MT). "Whether in a hospital or overseas on a military base, nurses work on the front lines of patient care in a wide variety of health care settings and serve as critically important advocates for patients and their families," said Senator Collins. "The U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps played a vital role in WWII, addressing a critical shortage of nurses during the War and providing women with an expedited nursing education in exchange for their health care services. U.S. Cadet Nurses worked tirelessly to keep America's healthcare system strong, and many went on to work in military hospitals caring for our injured troops. I am proud to cosponsor this meaningful bill, and I encourage my colleagues to join us in honoring U.S. Cadet Nurses." "On this day in 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor shocked the nation and brought the United States into World War II," said Senator King. "Seventy-seven years later, it is still important to remember the contributions of all Americans who answered the call to serve - including the Cadet Nurses, who saved lives, healed the injured, and in so many ways, helped save our nation." Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) joined the bipartisan group in recognizing the service of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. In the midst of WWII, a severe shortage of trained nurse…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-unanimously-passes-library-museum-bill-senator-collins-introduced-bipartisan-group	Senate Unanimously Passes Library & Museum Bill Senator Collins Introduced with Bipartisan Group	2018-12-06	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. In a major victory for libraries, museums, and lifelong learning opportunities, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). The bill is cosponsored by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bob Casey (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Roger Wicker (R-MS). The Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 renews and builds on the $240 million commitment to the federal museum and library programs administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent federal agency that helps museums and libraries across the country advance their educational missions, deliver services, preserve history, and make their collections more accessible. The U.S. Senate sent a strong bipartisan message on the importance of robustly supporting the federal agency that helps museums and libraries better serve their communities. IMLS supports programs at more than 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums nationwide. Public libraries and museums are central community institutions in Maine and throughout the country. Increasingly, libraries have emerged as hubs not just for literacy and Internet access, but for workforce support and access to important information. The bipartisan Museum and Library Services Act represents a commitment to supporting libraries and museums that do more than accumulate artifacts they tell stories that enrich our communities and inspire the minds of future generations, said Senator Collins. Our bill would bolster that commitment, and I will continue to work with Senator Reed to ensure that libraries and museums …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-266-million-three-transportation-projects-maine	Senator Collins Announces $26.6 Million for Three Transportation Projects in Maine	2018-12-06	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Senator Collins has secured more than $160 million for Maine transportation projects through this grant program since 2009 Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that Maine will receive a total of $26.6 million to fund three transportation projects. The projectswhich will be funded through the BUILD program that was previously known as TIGERwill improve infrastructure statewide as well as create jobs, reduce traffic congestion, and increase safety. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao called Senator Collins this morning to notify her that these projects for which Senator Collins strongly advocated were approved. Improving Maine's transportation infrastructure is one of my top priorities. I am delighted to announce this $26.6 million investment that will benefit communities across the state, said Senator Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. These projects will enhance the safety and efficiency of our transportation network while growing our economy and helping Mainers reach their homes and jobs more quickly. We are deeply grateful to Senator Collins and Secretary Chao for their support of Waterville's revitalization through the awarding of this BUILD grant, said Colby College President David A. Greene. This grant will be a catalyst for a safe, beautiful, and vibrant Main Street. Our downtown businesses will prosper with these changes and job growth and opportunity will continue to be the cornerstone of Waterville's resurgence. This is a great day for the city of Waterville and for all those who are committed to seeing this community thrive. The three Maine transportation projects that will receive funding are as follows: Western Gateways Project. The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) will receive an $11,027,500 million BUILD grant for a $22 million project to repair, resurface, improve drainage, and enhance pedestrian safety to a network of three key roadways i…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bipartisan-group-calling-inspector-general-investigation-va%E2%80%99s-failure	Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Calling for Inspector General Investigation into VAs Failure to Pay Veterans Full Benefits	2018-12-04	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling for a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General investigation into allegations that the VA would not reimburse veterans for misused or underpaid benefits. In their bipartisan letter to the VA's Inspector General, the lawmakers ask about how the technical errors occurred, how quickly any reimbursements will be made, and how the VA plans to make sure all benefits will continue to be paid out without interruption. The VA's continued ambiguity about whether it will fulfill this legal requirement threatens to erode our veterans' confidence in the VA's ability to deliver promised care and benefits and demands close oversight and accountability, the lawmakers wrote. It is important that VA fix the technical and staffing shortages that contributed to its inability to implement the Forever GI bill so that it can continue to provide housing stipends to veterans. However, we remain resolved that VA make veterans whole for any missed or underpaid benefits based on the housing stipend rates that they were legally entitled to when the changes took effect in August 2018. In addition to Senator Collins, the letter was signed by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.). The text of the full letter follows: Dear Mr. Missal: We are writing to request an investigation into allegations that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will withhold retroactive payments for missed or underpaid monthly housing stipends that it failed to pay veterans during delayed implementation of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Education Assistance Act (P.L. 115-48), known as the Forever GI Bill. According to NBC News on November 28, 2018 (Veterans Affairs Dept. tells Ca…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-floor-senator-collins-pays-tribute-president-george-hw-bush	From the Senator Floor, Senator Collins Pays Tribute to President George H.W. Bush	2018-12-04	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. From the Senator floor this afternoon, U.S. Senator Susan Collins paid tribute to President George H.W. Bush. Senator Collins' full remarks can be read HERE and below: On Ocean Avenue in Kennebunkport, Maine, stands a simple yet powerful monument, a gift from the people of that small community to a friend and neighbor. The monument is a United States Navy anchor; the friend and neighbor was President George Herbert Walker Bush. It is a fitting tribute. President Bush often called the family home at Walker's Point his anchor to the windward,' a special place of unsurpassed beauty in a caring community. Through the years, it has been the place that gave him the strength to face the many challenges he took on in dedicated service to our country. And indeed, every summer of his life, George Herbert Walker Bush spent at Walker's Point, except when he was defending our country during World War II. It is a fitting tribute in another way. As a Navy aviator in World War II, as a Member of Congress, as a Special Envoy to China, as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, as Vice President, and President, George H.W. Bush consistently and vigorously demonstrated the values that are the anchor of American society. Courage, duty, honor, and compassion defined his life. As he encouraged Americans to be a thousand points of light through service to others, he shone the brightest himself. He always answered the call to serve our country. I had the pleasure to visit President and Mrs. Bush at Walker's Point many times over the years and how I looked forward to those annual visits in Kennebunkport. The very first time I remember so well. It was in 1994, and I had just won the Republican primary for Governor of Maine. I received a call from President Bush's staff inviting me to have lunch with him and Mrs. Bush at Walker's Point. The last time I saw the president was on September 7, just months after President Bush had lost his beloved Barbara and as his own health was declining rapidly. Yet as the Pres…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-and-king-announce-maine-nominees-united-states-military-service-2	Senators Collins And King Announce Maine Nominees To The United States Military Service Academies	2018-12-04	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced their nominees to the United States Military Academies. To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress. Admission to the United States Coast Guard Academy, also a federal service academy, does not require a congressional nomination. We are proud to have the honor to nominate such an impressive group of Maine students to our nation's distinguished service academies, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. The young people we have nominated have earned this honor through a commitment to strong scholarship, leadership, and character. The following students from Maine have received nominations as candidates to the military academies from Senators Collins and King: United States Air Force Academy Colorado Springs Name Home Town High School Brett Brown Bangor Bangor High School Logan Christian Hampden Hampden Academy William Curtis Brunswick Brunswick High School Trace Cyr Presque Isle Presque Isle High School Tristan Denholm Kittery Point Robert Williams Traip Academy Aspen Dyer North Berwick Noble High School Caroline Leal York York High School Alexander Morrison Baileyville Woodland Jr./Sr. High School Jack O'Neil Bethel Philips Academy Andover Maxime Reznik Bar Harbor Mount Desert Island High School United States Merchant Marine Academy- Kings Point Name Home Town High School Trace Cyr Presque Isle Presque Isle High School Louis Daukas Cape Elizabeth Cape Elizabeth High School Jack Hermansen Windham Windham High School George Holt Cumberland Foreside Baxter Academy for Technology & Science J. Huffard Cape Elizabeth Cape Elizabeth High School Benjamin Jacobs Carrabassett Valley Carrabassett Valley Academy Jack O'Neil Bethel Philips Andover Academy Morgan Sharp Kennebunkport Kennebunk High School Aidan Willitts Cape Elizabeth Cape Elizabeth High School Unites States Military Academy West Point Name Home…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-more-46-million-investment-water-infrastructure-southwest	Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $46 Million Investment for Water Infrastructure in Southwest Harbor, Bridgton, and Rockland	2018-12-04	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development office is investing a total of $46,121,000 to upgrade water infrastructure in Southwest Harbor, Bridgton, and Rockland. USDA is providing financing through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program, which can be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage, and waste disposal systems for rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents. Maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure is vital to ensuring the economic and environmental health of these communities, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. Southwest Harbor, Bridgton, and Rockland are renowned for their pristine beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. These significant investments will help protect the environment in the regions while creating jobs and increasing efficiencies at their wastewater treatment plants. The funding was awarded as follows: Southwest Harbor Water and Sewer District ($15,684,000) Southwest Harbor was awarded an $8,000,000 loan and a $7,684,000 grant to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility and pump stations. The project will remove processing equipment that has exceeded its useful life, replace and expand existing structures, and improve overall efficiencies of the treatment process. The improvements include building upgrades, pump station upgrades, new blowers, sludge pumps, a dumping station, sludge dewatering, and clarifiers. These upgrades include higher efficiency equipment, which will result in more affordable operations for the users of the system. The town's wastewater treatment facility provides essential wastewater services to its 539 residential and 128 commercial and governmental customers. Upon completion of the project, the district will be in compliance with its Maine Department of Environmental Protection discharge permit. Modernization of this circa 1973 wastewater treatment plant will minimize and/or eliminate the potential for disc…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-nearly-2-million-head-start-hancock-and-washington-counties	Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $2 Million for Head Start in Hancock and Washington Counties	2018-12-03	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that Downeast Community Partners (DCP) received $1,996,333 for its Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Hancock and Washington counties. Head Start programs are instrumental in ensuring that young children cultivate new skills and receive educational opportunities, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This funding will help build an educational foundation for children in Hancock and Washington counties and provide parents with access to the services they need during their children's early years. In October 2017, Washington Hancock Community Agency (WHCA) and Child and Family Opportunities (CFO) merged to form Downeast Community Partners (DCP). The two entities formerly operated as two separate local non-profits dedicated to serving the residents of Washington and Hancock counties. Child and Family Opportunities, Inc. (CFO), formed in 1970, and the Washington Hancock Community Agency (WHCA), formed in 1966, have each served the Down East region of Maine, focusing on helping low-income and at-risk residents thrive. DCP now continues this work. Head Start was established in 1965 to promote school readiness and provide a comprehensive array of health, nutritional, and social services to eligible four- and five-year-old preschoolers and their families. Head Start services include early learning, health, and family well-being. This funding, which was awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), funds local agencies that provide Head Start services across the country.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-passing-president-hw-bush	Senator Collins Statement on Passing of President H.W. Bush	2018-12-01	2018	2018-12	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Bangor, MEU.S. Senator Susan Collins issued this statement on the passing of President George H.W. Bush: On Ocean Avenue in Kennebunkport, Maine, stands a simple yet powerful monument, a gift from the people of that small town to a friend and neighbor. The monument is a United States Navy anchor; the friend and neighbor is President George Herbert Walker Bush. It is a fitting tribute. President Bush often called the family home at Walker's Point his anchor to windward,' a special place of unsurpassed natural beauty in a caring community. Through the years, it has been the place that gave him the strength to face the many challenges he took on in dedicated service to our country. It is fitting in another way. As a Navy aviator in World War II, in Congress, as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Vice President, and President, George H.W. Bush consistently and vigorously demonstrated the values that are the anchor of American society. Courage, duty, honor, and compassion define our nation and his life. As he encouraged Americans to be a thousand points of light through service to others, he shone the brightest. These values were also demonstrated by his First Lady, Barbara, his devoted partner for 73 wonderful years. As we recall what President and Mrs. Bush gave to our nation, we also reflect upon what we have lost. The end of a life so devoted to the highest ideals of the human spirit brings to mind the Parable of the Talents. The master, leaving on a journey, entrusts a servant with a portion of his treasure. Upon his return, the master is delighted to find that his wealth was wisely invested and multiplied. George Herbert Walker Bush was entrusted with the great treasure of principles, determination, and courage. He invested that treasure wisely and multiplied it to the benefit of all. Like the master in the New Testament, to him we say, Well done, good and faithful servant.' May God bless him and keep his memory always anchored in our hearts.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-participates-women%E2%80%99s-retirement-security-panel-elevate-summit	Senator Collins Participates in Womens Retirement Security Panel at Elevate Summit	2018-11-30	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins speaking at the summit Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, participated in a panel at the Elevate Summit this week to address the challenges women face as they save for their retirement. Senator Collins delivered brief remarks and answered questions from the audience. Nearly half of working Americans believe that they will not have enough money to live comfortably in retirement, said Senator Collins. As the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, improving American's retirement security is one of my top priorities. I was pleased to address the concerns of so many hard working women at the Elevate Summit. In 2017, Senators Collins and Bob Casey (D-PA) sent two letters to the Government Accountability Office requesting that they study retirement issues related to women. The first specifically involved retirement savings challenges unique to women while the second addressed the savings challenges faced by women who take time off from work to serve as caregivers for members of their family. The studies are ongoing with expected completion dates in the coming year. The Elevate Summit was an all-day bipartisan conference for women, by women to discuss the 2018 election results and issues of women's financial security.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-reed-bill-fund-america%E2%80%99s-libraries-and-museums-clears-senate-hurdle	Senators Collins, Reed Bill to Fund Americas Libraries and Museums Clears Senate Hurdle	2018-11-30	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee unanimously passed the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 (MLSA), legislation authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) to reauthorize MLSA through fiscal year (FY) 2025. The programs in this bill directly serve libraries and museums across the country. This bipartisan bill would also modernize the authorities and grants at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to help museums and libraries better meet the changing needs of their communities. Public libraries and museums are central community institutions in Maine and throughout the country. Increasingly, libraries have emerged as hubs not just for literacy and Internet access, but for workforce support and access to important information. The bipartisan Museum and Library Services Act represents a commitment to supporting libraries and museums that do more than accumulate artifacts they tell stories that enrich our communities and inspire the minds of future generations, said Senator Collins. Our bill would bolster that commitment, and I will continue to work with Senator Reed to ensure that libraries and museums across the country receive this vital support. We must do all we can to support libraries and museums, which serve as anchor institutions for their communities and are beacons of education, connectivity, and discussion across our nation. The Museum and Library Services Act is a crucial step toward ensuring that these institutions are funded, staffed, and accessible to all. Through a relatively modest federal investment, this law helps build the capacity to support and expand access to library and museum services at the state and local level, and it will help fully leverage the role of libraries and museums in supporting the learning, educational, and workforce development needs of Americans nationwide, said Senator Reed. The MLSA would enhance the ability of libraries and museums to address community needs, includi…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-elizabeth-and-bob-dole-recognize-senator-collins-advocacy-behalf-military	Senators Elizabeth and Bob Dole Recognize Senator Collins for Advocacy on Behalf of Military Caregivers	2018-11-30	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Marjorie Pennington, a 2017 Elizabeth Dole Fellow and military caregiver from Kenduskeag, Maine, presented Senator Collins with the award Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins with Tom Hanks and Senator Elizabeth Dole Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins with Marjorie Pennington and Steve Schwab. Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) was honored last night with the first Congressional Caregiver Champion Award at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's Heroes and History Makers Dinner for her outstanding advocacy of military caregivers. Actor and military caregiver advocate Tom Hanks, as well as TODAY anchor Savannah Guthrie and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi were also honored at the ceremony. Nowhere is our duty as citizens greater than in our obligation to support the men and women of our armed forces, who bear the wounds of their service, and to support their family caregivers, who serve them, said Senator Collins. I am honored to receive the Caregiver Champion Award, and I thank my dear friends and true American heroes, Senators Elizabeth and Bob Dole, for their commitment to this remarkable cause. "Senator Collins has devoted herself to finding legislative solutions to the most urgent concerns of our military and veteran caregivers, said Senator Elizabeth Dole. Through her dedication and leadership, she has helped forever change how America supports our hidden heroes. She is a true champion of all of America's caregivers, and I am proud to recognize her with this honor." In June 2017, Senator Collins chaired a hearing of the Senate Aging Committee to examine the challenges facing the 5.5 million individuals in the United States who are providing informal care on a routine basis to veterans in need of regular assistance. A new report, released at the hearing, found that the individuals are providing roughly $14 billion a year in voluntary, uncompensated care, and that these spouses, parents, friends and other loved ones transform their lives to provide dai…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-over-11-million-community-health-centers-washington-kennebec	Collins, King Announce Over $11 Million for Community Health Centers in Washington, Kennebec, Penobscot and Cumberland Counties	2018-11-29	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON D.C U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a total of $11,668,486 for four community health centers throughout Maine. The funding will be awarded to Regional Medical Center in Lubec, Healthreach Community Health Centers in Waterville, Health Access Network Inc. in Lincoln, and Portland Community Health Center to improve health services and support health care professionals. Community health centers provide essential services and make a tremendous difference in the lives of Maine people, Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. This important investment will support these health professionals as they continue to help ensure access to top-quality care for our families, friends, and neighbors. The funding is allocated as follows: Regional Medical Center in Lubec received $1,276,277. Healthreach Community Health Centers in Waterville received $3,987,494. Health Access Network, Inc. in Lincoln received $2,861,773. Portland Community Health Center received $3,542,942. This grant funding is awarded through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within HHS that is tasked with improving access to health care by building healthy communities, strengthening the health care workforce, and achieving health equity. HRSA's programs target the economic and medically vulnerable as well as the geographically isolated. The grants are awarded under HRSA's Health Center Cluster program. Community health centers (CHCs) provide care to more than 200,000 people in Maine and are a critical part of the nation's primary care network. Across the nation, CHCs serve approximately 26 million patients at over 10,000 sites in both rural and urban communities in every state in the nation. In 2017, community health centers were the medical home for one in twelve Americans, one in ten children, one in six Americans living in rural areas, and more than 330,000 of our nation's veteran…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-aging-committee-examines-ways-strengthen-guardianship-programs	Senate Aging Committee Examines Ways to Strengthen Guardianship Programs	2018-11-29	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE for a copy of Senator Collins' opening statement Click HERE for a copy of Senator Casey's opening statement Click HERE for a copy of the Aging Committee's report on guardianships Click HERE for a one-pager and HERE for the bill text of the Guardianship Accountability Act Washington, D.C. The Senate Aging Committee has been alerted of appalling stories from Americans across the country regarding abusive guardianships that take advantage of vulnerable individuals. These guardians are entrusted with significant power over those who rely on their support. Their authority can range from deciding where an individual will live and when to seek medical care to choosing if family members are allowed to visit and how to spend retirement savings. Although guardians provide a valuable and essential service for many Americans in need of support and protection, unscrupulous guardians acting with little oversight have used guardianship proceedings to obtain control of vulnerable individuals and have then used that control to liquidate assets and savings for their own personal benefit. Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob Casey (D-PA), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, examined this issue and released the Committee's report in a hearing titled, Ensuring Trust: Strengthening State Efforts to Overhaul the Guardianship Process and Protect Older Americans. This hearing is the culmination of a year-long examination of ways in which the system can be improved to better protect individuals subject to these and similar arrangements from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The bipartisan report addresses three key areas the importance of guardianship oversight, alternatives to guardianship, and the need for improved data and makes 13 recommendations. As a result of the Committee's investigation, Senators Collins and Casey announced during the hearing that they are introducing the Guardianship Accountability Act. This bipartisan legislation would promote information sharing amon…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-committee-unanimously-passes-bipartisan-bill-fight-alzheimer%E2%80%99s	Senate Committee Unanimously Passes Bipartisan Bill to Fight Alzheimers	2018-11-29	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. Today, the Senate Health Committee unanimously passed the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, legislation authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). This bipartisan bill would create a public health infrastructure to combat Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain health. Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest and under-recognized public health threats of our time. Five and a half million Americans are living with the disease, and that number is soaring as our overall population grows older and lives longer, said Senator Collins, a founder and Senate co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease. After decades of increasing investments in biomedical research for Alzheimer's, we are ready for the next step: to translate research into practice. The BOLD Act takes a multi-pronged public health approach that would create a modern infrastructure for the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer's and related dementias. The bipartisan BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act will fund and promote early diagnosis, effective intervention, and better treatment options and establish Centers of Excellence to educate the public and professionals on the illness. I'm proud to support this bipartisan effort to support doctors, caregivers and all those working to improve the quality of life and finally find a cure for people suffering the effects of Alzheimer's and related cognitive disorders, said Senator Cortez Masto. Alzheimer's is a very personal and important priority for me, as it is for millions of Americans and their families. This legislation will help tackle this devastating disease on all fronts, from those suffering from it to their caregiving, Senator Capito said. I'm so glad to see the HELP Committee approve our bill today, bringing us one step closer to getting this bipartisan legislation across the finish line. Everybody in this place has an Alzhei…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-committee-unanimously-passes-senator-collins%E2%80%99-bipartisan-bill-fight-alzheimer%E2%80%99s	Senate Committee Unanimously Passes Senator Collins Bipartisan Bill to Fight Alzheimers	2018-11-29	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. Today, the Senate Health Committee unanimously passed the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, legislation authored by U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to create a public health infrastructure to combat Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain health. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined Senator Collins in introducing this bipartisan bill. Senator Collins is a founder and Senate co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest and under-recognized public health threats of our time. Five and a half million Americans are living with the disease, and that number is soaring as our overall population grows older and lives longer, said Senator Collins. After decades of increasing investments in biomedical research for Alzheimer's, we are ready for the next step: to translate research into practice. The BOLD Act takes a multi-pronged public health approach that would create a modern infrastructure for the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer's and related dementias. More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, and the United States spends more than $277 billion per year, including $186 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. Without further action, the number of Americans with Alzheimer's is expected to triple to as many as 14 million by 2050, costing the nation more than $1.1 trillion per year. This legislation would apply a public health approach to reduce risk, detect early symptoms, advance care, improve data, and ultimately change the trajectory of this devastating disease. Headed by the Centers of Disease and Prevention (CDC), it would authorize $20 million annually over the next five years to establish: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Public Health Centers of Excellence dedicated to promoting effective Alzheimer's disease and caregiving interventions as well as educating the public on Alzheimer's dise…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-passing-peter-miesburger	Senator Collins Statement on Passing of Peter Miesburger	2018-11-26	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Senator Collins' Statement on Passing of Peter Miesburger Posted Mon, 11/26/2018 - 12:39 Click HERE for a high-quality photo of Senator Collins and Peter Miesburger Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued this statement on the passing of M/Sgt. Peter Miesburger, USAF Ret: Through his many years in the U.S. Air Force and his tireless advocacy for his fellow veterans, Pete's life was marked by exceptional service to his country. Pete was a tremendous champion for ensuring that Northern Maine veterans have access to care close to home, and he was instrumental in the progress we made on Community-Based Outpatient Clinics and the ARCH program. Pete frequently travelled to Washington, D.C., to brief me on issues affecting Maine veterans, and I will greatly miss seeing him to discuss our shared priority of ensuring that veterans receive the benefits and resources they have earned. As one of the founding fathers of the Northern Maine Veterans' Cemetery, it is fitting that Pete will be laid to rest there with the veterans he devoted his life to serving. My heart goes out to Jean, his wife of 50 years, and their children. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/home-care-and-hospice-month-time-recognize-medical-professionals-who-provide-expert-care	Home Care and Hospice Month: A Time to Recognize Medical Professionals Who Provide Expert Care for Patients Each Day	2018-11-20	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	November is National Home Care and Hospice Month, a time to recognize the skilled, dedicated professionals who make a difference in the lives of patients and their families every day. Home care and hospice nurses, therapists, aides, and other caregivers play a central role in our health care system and in homes in Maine and across the nation. I recently had the pleasure to celebrate this special month with the professionals of Maine General HomeCare and Hospice, which has served Augusta and the surrounding communities for decades. Last year, staff provided expert care to nearly 4,400 people and drove 1.3 million miles in all kinds of weather topatients' homes. Their purple vests are a welcome sight throughout Kennebec and Somerset counties. I was honored to receive the Ruby Slipper Award from the Home Care and Hospice Alliance of Maine last year for my work to support and strengthen these vital services. That award is perfectly named -- for, as Dorothy said to the Wizard of Oz, there's no place like home. Nevertheless, ensuring that people in Maine have access to the home care and hospice services they need requires more than clicking our heels together and making a wish. It requires the dedication, expertise, and hard work home care and hospice providers demonstrate every day. I have been a strong supporter of home care since I first went on a home visit20 years ago. It gave me the opportunity to meet and visit with home health patients, and I saw what a difference highly skilled and compassionate care can make to the lives of patients and their families. Home health agencies help to keep families together and enable our most frail and vulnerable older and disabled individuals to avoid hospitals and nursing homes and stay just where they want to be in the comfort, security, and privacy of their own homes. Moreover, by helping these individuals avoid more costly institutional care, home health agencies are saving Medicare billions of dollars each year. Last month, I introduced theHome Health Payment Innovati…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-shaheen-press-united-healthcare-anthem-and-aetna-provide-additional	Senators Collins, Shaheen Press United Healthcare, Anthem, and Aetna to Provide Additional Information on Insulin Pricing	2018-11-20	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	ClickHERE,HERE, andHEREto read the letters Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Co-Chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, wrote to the three largest insurance companiesUnited Healthcare, Anthem, and Aetnarequesting information on insulin prices and rebates. The Senators are seeking information regarding the role that insurance plans play in promoting affordable access to insulin products. Over the past 10 years, the price of this lifesaving medication has increased by 240 percent. As Co-Chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, we are concerned about the skyrocketing prices of insulin products and the impact of these higher prices on individuals with diabetes,Senators Collins and Shaheen wrote to the CEOs of United Healthcare, Anthem, and Aetna.More than seven million Americans use insulin as part of their daily treatment, and virtually all of those with Type 1 diabetes rely on it for survival. Although insulin was first discovered nearly a century ago, manufacturers have raised prices by more than 240 percent in the last decade. This shocking increase in price could place an essential diabetes treatment out of reach for some Americans, increasing the risk of complications including vision problems, nerve damage, heart disease, stroke, and premature death. The number of Americans living with diabetes is expected to double by 2030 and related health care costs are expected to increase by more than fifty percent. It has been estimated, however, that a 10 percent increase in medication compliance among patients with diabetes results in a 4 percent decrease in diabetes-related health care costs,the Senators continued in their letter. Unfortunately, skyrocketing prescription drug prices continue to burden Americans, making access to needed therapies unaffordable. A recent survey found that, because of cost, approximately 21 percent of Americans chose not to purchase a prescription drug in 2016. Senators Collins and Shaheen posed seven questions to each of the three insuranc…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-meets-jobs-maine%E2%80%99s-graduates	Senator Collins Meets with Jobs for Maines Graduates	2018-11-19	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	ClickHEREfor a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins met with Jobs for Maine's Graduates (JMG) students Monique Nadeau and Cheyenne Cormier of Caribou High School in her Washington, D.C., office. The group visited our nation's capital for the Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) National Student Leadership Academy, which allows students from across the country to travel to Washington, D.C., to strengthen their academic, public speaking, and leadership skills to enhance their employment and career advancement opportunities. Monique and Cheyenne are the only students from Maine participating in the conference. It is inspiring to meet driven student leaders like Monique and Cheyenne, from my hometown of Caribou, who are in Washington, D.C., representing Jobs for Maine's Graduates at the National Student Leadership Academy,said Senator Collins. Jobs for Maine's Graduates plays a vital role in our public schools by providing Maine students with the resources, skills, and knowledge they need as they enter the workforce and pursue their goals. JAG is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among young people who are most at-risk. JAG operates in 34 states, including Maine. The Maine affiliate, JMG, was launched in 1993 by the Maine Legislature as a dropout prevention partnership. The organization runs programs in schools to support at-risk students' transition from middle to high school and on to higher education and into careers. JMG serves more than 7,000 students in communities throughout the State of Maine. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-aroostook-house-comfort	Senator Collins Visits Aroostook House of Comfort	2018-11-19	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	ClickHERE,HERE, andHEREfor high-resolution photos of Senator Collins Presque Isle, ME Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, toured the Aroostook House of Comfort in Presque Isle, a six bedroomnon-profit hospice home for patients receiving hospice care from Northern Light Home Care and Hospice. As the only Medicare-certified hospice facility in Aroostook County, the Aroostook House of Comfort plays a vital role in the community, providing high-quality, specialized care in a home-like environment,said Senator Collins. I am very impressed by this new facility and the hard work shown by the passionate volunteers and community members to get this organization running. Aroostook House of Comfortofficially opened in April. The facility offers patients relief from distressing pain and symptoms while keeping family and loved ones close by. Aroostook House of Comfort is the only official hospice house in Aroostook County. Northern Light Home Care & Hospice is headquartered in South Portland with additional office locations in Presque Isle, Bangor, Ellsworth, and Waterville. In 2017, the organization cared for 10,320 people, made 214,309 home health visits, and made 46,328 hospice visits. Last month, Senator Collins introduced theHome Health Payment Innovation Act, a bipartisan bill to protect providers from premature and unwarranted payment rate reductions as well as expand access to care in a cost-effective manner.In January, theRAISE Family Caregivers Act,a bipartisan bill authored by Senator Collins, wassigned into law. This legislation requires a coordinated strategic plan to leverage resources, promote best practices, and expand services and training available to caregivers.In recognition of her outstanding advocacy and long-time leadership for home care and hospice, Senator Collinsreceived the Home Care and Hospice Alliance of Maine's Ruby Slipper Awardlast year.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bipartisan-group-introducing-comprehensive-saudi-arabia	Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Introducing Comprehensive Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act	2018-11-16	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined a group of six bipartisan Senators in introducing the Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2018, comprehensive legislation to ensure effective congressional oversight of U.S. policy on Yemen, provide leverage to push the stakeholders in Yemen's civil war toward a political process, address the world's worst humanitarian crisis, and demand meaningful accountability for the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Todd Young (R-IN) Jack Reed (D-RI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) joined Senator Collins in introducing the bill The time has come to confront one of our allies in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, over the Saudi-led war in Yemen and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, said Senator Collins. The war in Yemen has become a humanitarian disaster, and the Saudi murder of Khashoggi is an egregious violation of human rights. Through the imposition of sanctions and the suspension of arms sales, this bipartisan legislation puts Saudi Arabian leaders on notice that we do not support how they are conducting the war, nor will we tolerate their outrageous murder of Khashoggi. A copy of the Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2018 can be found HERE. Key elements of this legislation include: Suspension of weapons sales to Saudi Arabia Prohibition on U.S. refueling of Saudi Coalition Aircraft engaged in the civil war in Yemen Sanctions for persons blocking humanitarian access in Yemen Sanctions for persons supporting the Houthis in Yemen Accountability report for all actors in Yemen in violation of international war or guilty of war crimes and harm to civilians Mandatory sanctions on persons responsible for the death of Jamal Khashoggi Report on human rights in Saudi Arabia	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-receives-international-student-house%E2%80%99s-2018-global-leadership-award	Senator Collins Receives International Student Houses 2018 Global Leadership Award	2018-11-16	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins with (from left to right) Jan Lngle, a resident scholar from Germany; Cynthia Bunton, President of ISH-DC Board of Directors; and Varsha Thebo, a resident scholar from Pakistan. Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins received the International Student House of Washington, D.C.'s, (ISH-DC) 2018 Global Leadership Award for her distinguished service to our country by promoting international understanding and education. ISH-DC's Global Leadership Awards Dinner celebrates the organization's mission of providing a diverse community of graduate students, academics, and post-graduate interns with a unique cross-cultural experience. With 22 locations around the world, the International Student House is part of a great movement to help the young people of today become the enlightened leaders of tomorrow, said Senator Collins. Their mission to inspire and cultivate new generations of leaders to accelerate the social, economic, and political changes essential for peace is more essential than ever before. I am honored to receive this award and will continue to work with others to bring hope and peace to the world. During her remarks, Senator Collins also praised the broader movement to help the young people today become the enlightened leaders of tomorrow. Senator Collins held up the Seeds of Peace camp in Otisfield, Maine, as a prime example of this effort. Over the past 26 years, Seeds of Peace has brought together more than 7,000 young people from 27 countries to promote understanding, reconciliation, acceptance, dialogue, coexistence, and peace. More than 15,000 students from over 140 countries have lived at ISH-DC since the organization's founding in 1936. ISH-DC is a member of International Houses Worldwide, a consortium of 22 International Houses from around the world, including Australia, Romania, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. These Houses are separate, independent, non-profit institutions united by one mission:To provide studen…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-cantwell-introduce-legislation-help-americans-high-health-care-costs	Senators Collins, Cantwell Introduce Legislation to Help Americans with High Health Care Costs	2018-11-16	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced legislation to assist families who are struggling to afford high medical costs. For those households that spend more than 7.5 percent of their income on medical expenses, Senators Collins and Cantwell's legislation would allow them to continue to deduct these costs from their tax bill. Millions of Americans rely on the medical expense deduction, nearly half of whom have incomes of $50,000 or less. The burden of high medical expenses falls disproportionately on seniors and those with disabilities. Medical debt is a serious challenge facing millions of families in our country, and as we endeavor to reduce health care costs, we should also make every effort to ensure that we lower their tax burden as well, said Senator Collins. I am proud that my provision temporarily restoring the income threshold to 7.5 percent for all taxpayers became law last year. I urge my colleagues to support this next step to help increase the affordability of health care by making this provision permanent for all Americans." More than 200,000 Washingtonians claimed the medical expense deduction on their taxes in 2014. By making this deduction permanent, families with high medical bills will be better equipped to pay for unexpected medical costs and life-saving treatment, said Senator Cantwell. The medical expense deduction provides needed financial relief for taxpayers with high health care costs, particularly those living with a disability, chronic condition or illness, said Joyce Rogers, Senior Vice President, AARP. Those who rely on this deduction, most of whom are older, deserve the certainty of knowing the current deduction will continue to be there for them when they need it. The medical expense deduction is vital for those who have pre-existing medical conditions, suffer chronic medical conditions, experience unexpected illnesses or injuries, or face costs for long-term care services that are not covered by insurance. Several years ago, the…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-receives-diabetes-champion-award-endocrine-society	Senator Collins Receives Diabetes Champion Award from the Endocrine Society	2018-11-15	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins, Mila Becker, and Dr. Rob Lash Click HERE for b-roll of Senator Collins receiving the award Washington, D.C. On World Diabetes Day yesterday, U.S. Senator Susan Collins received the Endocrine Society's Diabetes Champion Award for her work to promote research and prevention efforts for people with diabetes. Senator Collins is the co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus and the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee. The award was presented by Chief Policy Officer Mila Becker and Chief Professional and Clinical Affairs Officer Dr. Rob Lash. I was especially honored to receive this award on World Diabetes Day from the Endocrine Society, which has been at the forefront of hormone science and public health for more than 100 years, said Senator Collins. Since founding the Senate Diabetes Caucus in 1997, I have worked to increase funding for diabetes research from $319 million in 1997 to more than $2 billion this year. As a result, we have seen encouraging developments in the management and treatment of diabetes. I will continue to work hard to ensure that scientists have the funding they need to change the course of this disease. In addition to Senator Collins, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Representatives Tom Reed (R-NY) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) received the Diabetes Champion Award for their bipartisan work in reauthorizing the Special Diabetes Program (SDP) in the fiscal year 2018 omnibus funding bill. The Special Diabetes Program consists of two components: the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research, which supports research on the prevention and cure of Type 1 diabetes and its complications; and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, which supports diabetes treatment and prevention strategies for American Indian and Alaska Native populations who are disproportionately burdened with Type 2 diabetes at a rate of 2.8 times the national average. A number of notable developments can be attributed to the Special Diabetes Program,…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-join-new-england-delegation-introducing-resolution-honoring-boston-red-sox	Collins, King Join New England Delegation in Introducing Resolution Honoring Boston Red Sox World Series Victory	2018-11-14	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined members of the New England Senate delegation today in introducing a resolution to congratulate the Boston Red Sox on their 2018 World Series victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In clinching the 2018 World Series, the Boston Red Sox stand as a testament to the New England values of hard work and perseverance, said Senator Collins. This resolution not only recognizes the commitment, skill, and leadership exhibited by the team, but it also expresses the gratitude from all of us who make up Red Sox Nation. Congratulations to the Red Sox on an extraordinary season! Since Spring Training, the Red Sox showed time and again that they were a special team, said Senator King. From the leadership of Alex Cora, to the positivity of Mookie Betts, to the exceptional performance of Steve Pearce in the World Series, the Sox had it all. It was great to watch their energy and charisma capture the hearts and minds of fans in Maine and across New England. Congratulations to the 2018 World Champions! In addition to Senators Collins and King, the resolution was introduced by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Jack Reed (D-RI). The full text of the resolution is available here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-urge-army-secretary-create-uss-thresher-memorial-arlington-national-cemetery	Collins, King Urge Army Secretary to Create USS Thresher Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery	2018-11-13	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined with Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in a letter urging Secretary of the Army Mark Esper to consider the USS Thresher Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Project to establish a monument honoring the 129 men who perished aboard the USS Thresher, a submarine that sank off the coast of New England on April 10, 1963. April 10, 2018 marked the 55th anniversary of the tragedy. As you know, on April 9, 1963, the USS Thresher, built and maintained at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, departed with a crew of 16 officers, 96 sailors, and 17 civilians. Early in the morning on April 10th, approximately 300 miles off the coast of New England, the Thresher experienced an incident during a post-maintenance sea trial dive from which she could not recover. Tragically, the boat was lost along with all 129 men on board, wrote the Senators. In response to the Thresher tragedy, the U.S. Navy instituted a new program to ensure the health and safety of U.S. submarines, establishing the Submarine Safety and Quality Assurance Program (SUBSAFE). SUBSAFE is one of the world's most comprehensive military safety programs and has helped provide maximum protection for Navy crews. No SUBSAFE-certified submarine has ever been lost. The Senators concluded, As we pass the 55th anniversary since we lost the Thresher, we believe a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery would be a fitting tribute to its legacy. As you know, a number of special monuments and memorials have been dedicated at Arlington, including tributes to the USS Serpens, the USS Maine, the Space Shuttles Columbia and Challenger as well as those lost during the Iran rescue mission in 1980. We believe a memorial to the USS Thresher would reflect the Arlington National Cemetery's long legacy as a national shrine and a living history of freedomwhere dignity and honor rest in solemn repose.' Th…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-more-13-million-head-start-york-county	Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $1.3 Million for Head Start in York County	2018-11-13	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that York County Community Action Corporation received $1,342,612 for its Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Head Start provides children with a strong educational foundation that allows them to grow and succeed. It also gives parents the developmental resources they need to support their children and to help them build confidence, Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. We welcome this important investment in the children and families of York County. York County Community Action Corporation seeks to alleviate and solve poverty for the people of York County by assisting families and seniors within the community. The organization helps to administer economic stability services such as Head Start, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Women with Infants and Children (WIC). This funding, which was awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), funds local agencies that provide Head Start services across the country. With this investment, the Head Start programs at York County Community Action Corporation will continue to work with community members to provide early educational and developmental resources for parents and their children. These programs offer support for children in low-income families from infancy to pre-school age. They prepare children for school, host classes with educational activities, provide health screenings, and connect families with disability and other health care services.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-legislation-protect-special-counsel%E2%80%99s-investigation	Senator Collins Statement on Legislation to Protect the Special Counsels Investigation	2018-11-09	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Senator Collins' Statement on Legislation to Protect the Special Counsel's Investigation Posted Fri, 11/09/2018 - 14:12 Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) issued this statement today on legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller: It is imperative that Special Counsel Robert Mueller be allowed to complete his investigation into Russian influence efforts during the 2016 elections. Under Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's leadership, the Special Counsel has been given all of the resources that he has needed to follow the evidence wherever it may lead. I am concerned about comments that Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has made regarding the Special Counsel and the parameters of his investigation. Although Mr. Rosenstein remains in charge of day-to-day oversight, Mr. Whitaker has the authority to intervene at any time in contrast to the recusal of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. For these reasons, I believe that we should bring to the Senate floor legislation that would put restrictions on the ability of President Donald Trump to fire the Special Counsel. This bill would codify the restriction that the Special Counsel can only be fired for good cause and in writing. The bill further specifies that only a Senate-confirmed Justice Department official could remove the Special Counsel. Acting Attorney General Whitaker is not a Senate-confirmed official. Senatedebate and passage of this bill would send a powerful message that Mr. Mueller must be able to complete his work unimpeded.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-delivers-remarks-biw-start-fabrication-ceremony-future-uss-patrick	Senator Collins Delivers Remarks at BIW Start of Fabrication Ceremony for the Future USS Patrick Gallagher	2018-11-09	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for high-resolution photos of Senator Collins Brunswick, ME Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks and joined in cutting the first piece of steel at the start of fabrication ceremony for the USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127). The event took place at BIW's Hardings Fabrication facility in Brunswick. Senator Collins, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, played a key role in securing funding for the procurement of DDG 127 at BIW in both the fiscal year (FY) 2016 and 2017 funding bills. It is so exciting to be part of the front end of a long and challenging process that defines why Bath built is best built' is not just a slogan, but a way of life. And just as with your co-workers at Bath, your skill, commitment to excellence, and perhaps most important, your hearts, go into every ship that begins here, said Senator Collins during her remarks. Navy ships sail the globe and, where necessary, sail into battle. They demonstrate the strength of American power and resolve. It is fitting, therefore, that our ships bear the names of individuals who have displayed uncommon valor, notable commitment, unwavering sacrifice, and extraordinary service in support of these missions, Senator Collins continued. I am certain that the namesake of DDG 127, Lance Corporal Patrick Gallagher, will inspire you as you build this magnificent ship in his honor. In March, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer announced that DDG 127 would be named after Lance Cpl. Patrick Bob Gallagher. Gallagher immigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1962 and joined the Marine Corps in 1966, where he served in the 3rd Marine Division in South Vietnam. Gallagher was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on July 18, 1966, when he selflessly threw his body on an incoming grenade, shielding his fellow Marines. He was able to throw it away from his unit before it exploded. Gallagher was killed in action one year later on March 30, 1967. Part of th…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-and-togus-proud-record-honoring-and-caring-our-veterans	Maine and Togus: A Proud Record of Honoring and Caring for Our Veterans	2018-11-08	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Veterans Day is a solemn anniversary, a day set aside not to celebrate victory in a great battle, but to honor the sacrifices that brought peace. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 was not marked by the roar of cannon. Rather, it was the moment the guns of the First World War were silenced by courage, devotion to duty, and a commitment to freedom. The virtues that brought about that silence echo throughout our history, so it is appropriate that Veterans Day now honors all who have defended our nation in all places and at all times. We owe them a great debt. We repay that debt in part with the gratitude we express on Veterans Day, but only in part. Today, some 20 million Americans wear the proud title of Veteran, nearly 127,000 here in our great state of Maine. To put that in perspective, Maine has more veterans per capita than all but two of the other states in the country. We are proud of our state's contributions to protecting our nation. Mainers also should be proud of our state's leadership in caring for our veterans. More than a century and a half ago, our nation's first hospital for veterans was established at Togus. On March 4, 1865, with victory in the Civil War close at hand, President Abraham Lincoln ended his second inaugural address with a commitment to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan. The day before, President Lincoln had taken action to care for those who had born the battle by signing into law a bill establishing a national network of hospitals for wounded veterans. In one of the last acts of a remarkable life defined by compassion, President Lincoln ensured that the patriots who saved our nation would not be forgotten. Instead, they would find care and healing through a national network of soldiers' homes, which became the template for succeeding generations of our VA hospitals of today. As more than 80,000 of those Civil War veterans were from Maine, it was fitting that the very first of thos…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-attends-front-street-shipyard-ribbon-cutting-ceremony	Senator Collins Attends Front Street Shipyard Ribbon Cutting Ceremony	2018-11-08	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins with Paul Andersen (L), CEO of Androscoggin Savings Bank, and JB Turner (R), President of Front Street Shipyard Belfast, ME U.S. Senator Susan Collins attended the Front Street Shipyard ribbon cutting ceremony for Building 6, the company's new 22,000 square foot facility. During the event, Senator Collins delivered brief remarks and toured the new building. Since its founding seven years ago, Front Street Shipyard has played a key role in the transformation of the City of Belfast, with the two thriving together as a result of public and private partnerships and committed citizens, said Senator Collins. In addition to building the finest boats in the world, Maine boatyards help to preserve the working waterfronts that are so vital to our state's heritage and future. Their leadership in environmental protection, workforce development, and workplace safety are exemplary. I was honored to attend this event and to congratulate all of the dedicated workers at Front Street Shipyard on this outstanding accomplishment. My partners, employees and I are all grateful to everyone who's made Front Street Shipyard's growth possible since we started the yard in 2011. We've had help from the Belfast City Council, Androscoggin Bank, MTI, and SBA to secure the land and funding for our new building. And we've had tremendous support from Senator Collins in finding both regional and federal resources to develop our business and grow our team of craftspeople, said JB Turner, president and general manager of Front Street Shipyard. We hope to give back to Maine's economy by helping to establish our state as a globally recognized destination for yachts and their crews. Established in 2011, Front Street Shipyard provides marine clients in Maine and beyond with boatbuilding and related services, such as new builds, boat refitting, repairs, and maintenance. The yard's team of more than 100 experienced boat service professionals use both advanced composite construction and traditi…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-delivers-keynote-address-mainegeneral%E2%80%99s-celebration-home-care-hospice-month	Senator Collins Delivers Keynote Address at MaineGenerals Celebration of Home Care & Hospice Month	2018-11-07	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE and HERE for high-resolution photos of Senator Collins Augusta, ME U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, provided the keynote address today at MaineGeneral's celebration of Home Care & Hospice Month at the Alfond Center for Health's Prescott Education Center. The event recognized MaineGeneral's skilled, dedicated professionals who make a difference in the lives of patients and their families every day. Following her remarks, Senator Collins participated in a Q&A with MaineGeneral HomeCare and Hospice employees. Approximately 120 people attended the event. Home health agencies help to keep families together and enable our most frail and vulnerable older and disabled individuals to avoid hospitals and nursing homes and stay just where they want to be in the comfort, security, and privacy of their own homes. With your continued commitment and hard work, we can help more patients and families reach that goal, said Senator Collins. I am honored to be with the skilled professionals of MaineGeneral to celebrate Home Care and Hospice Month and to thank you for your dedication to this crucial issue. MaineGeneral HomeCare & Hospice delivers exceptional care every day to hundreds of patients a day, said MaineGeneral Health President & CEO, Chuck Hays. Our staff is committed to providing the best patient-centered services possible, helping patients stay in their homes where they want to be. This is an outstanding team and we're pleased to have Senator Collins join us to honor our employees for their hard work, long hours, long distances travelled, and most importantly, for their dedication to providing compassionate, skilled care. MaineGeneral HomeCare and Hospice is a not-for-profit Medicare-certified organization that provides a full range of home health and hospice services to approximately 70 towns throughout the counties of Kennebec and Somerset. The organization currently employs more than 200 individuals who care for more than 700 patients daily. Las…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-%E2%80%9C-her-independence-susan-collins-has-cemented-her-legacy-senate%E2%80%9D	ICYMI: For her independence, Susan Collins has cemented her legacy in the Senate	2018-11-05	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	For her independence, Susan Collins has cemented her legacy in the Senate BDN \| Senator Lamar Alexander Senator Alexander, a Republican, represents Tennessee in the U.S. Senate, where he chairs the powerful Senate Health and Education Committee. He formerly served as the Governor of Tennessee and the United States Secretary of Education. John McCain and Susan Collins met 40 years ago working in the U.S. Senate. He was a Navy liaison to the Senate, having recently returned from North Vietnam where he was a prisoner of war. She was a legislative aide to Maine Sen. William Cohen. Their relationship, both have told me, was from the beginning a little prickly. The independence that defined their later careers as senators from Arizona and Maine, respectively, was evident even then. At any given time, a few senators stand out from the rest. When I was a young senate aide in the 1960s, it was Everett Dirksen and Mike Mansfield. Later on, it was Howard Baker and Ted Kennedy. More recently, McCain earned that standing because his independence, integrity and diligence often caused the rest of us to wonder until the last minute how he would vote although we knew that however he voted it would be because it thought it was right for the country. Collins has earned that same standing. The most recent example of Collins' integrity, independence and diligence was her powerful address regarding President Donald Trump's nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. She approached the controversy as she always does carefully and with an open mind. Jon Kyl, who accompanied Kavanaugh to most of his meetings with senators before Kyl was appointed to serve the remainder of McCain's term, told me that it was Collins among all senators who most carefully questioned Kavanaugh. Her meeting with Kavanaugh lasted two hours. She is not a lawyer, but she had read his opinions and seemed to know as much about some of them as any Supreme Court justice would. She followed up with telephone calls and requests for documents. Th…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/comprehensive-approach-addressing-opioid-crisis	A Comprehensive Approach to Addressing the Opioid Crisis	2018-11-02	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Drug overdoses claimed the lives of 418 Mainers last year, more than one per day. In addition to that staggering death toll, nearly 1,000 babies in our state were born addicted to opioids and other drugs. And Maine is not alone in grappling with this crisis. Across the country, tens of thousands of Americans are killed each year by opioids. In response to this public health emergency, the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act was signed into law on October 24 after being passed by overwhelming margins in Congress. This comprehensive legislation takes important steps toward fulfilling the multipronged approach I have long pushed for: prevention, treatment, and recovery. Congress has appropriated $8.5 billion this year for fighting the opioid crisis. The SUPPORT Act will help states and communities use these funds to better address this scourge. The legislation will provide vital assistance to individuals and families who are struggling with addiction. As a member of the Senate Health Committee, I authored two provisions that were included in the final legislation. These provisions will help ensure that unused prescription drugs do not fall into the wrong hands and bolster peer support networks for long-term recovery. The first provision incorporates the bipartisan Safe Disposal of Unused Medication ActI sponsored that allows hospice staff, such as physicians, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners, to dispose of unused prescription drugs after a hospice patient dies or a medication expires. Currently, hospice staff are not allowed to dispose of unused medications. As a result, dangerous medications with a high risk of diversion, theft, and abuse are frequently left in the deceased person's home. This legislation was supported by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. The second provision is based on my bipartisan Opioid Peer Support Networks Act. This willfoster the creation of peer support networks, also known as communities in recovery, and will provide them with the resourc…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-applauds-significant-decline-veteran-homelessness	Senator Collins Applauds Significant Decline in Veteran Homelessness	2018-11-02	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins applauded the findings of a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) study that revealed that the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in 2018 decreased by 5.4 percent since last year. HUD also reported a nearly 10 percent decline among female veterans experiencing homelessness. Today's findings build on an encouraging decline in veteran homelessness that is largely attributed to the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. As the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee and a member of the subcommittee that funds the Department of Veterans Affairs, Senator Collins has fought to ensure continued funding for veterans homelessness programs, including the HUD-VASH program. Since 2008, more than 90,000 VASH vouchers have been awarded, including 238 vouchers in Maine. As a result of Senator Collins' efforts, homelessness among veterans has declined 48.9 percent since 2008. Veterans have sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms, and we have a duty to provide these courageous men and women with the benefits and resources they have earned through their service, said Senator Collins. That's why I have fought for the continued funding of the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program, which provides a lifeline to thousands of homeless and at-risk veterans each year. We must continue to build on the tremendous progress we have made to ensure that in the land of the free, there will always be a home for the brave. Each year, thousands of communities around the country conduct one-night Point-in-Time' estimates of the number of persons experiencing homelessnessin emergency shelters, transitional housing programs and unsheltered locations. This year's estimate found that 37,878 veterans experienced homelessness in January 2018 compared to 40,020 reported in January 2017. In January 2018, local communities reported 3,219 homeless female veterans compared to 3,571 one year earlier. Last year, more than 4,000 …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-566690-strengthen-rural-maine%E2%80%99s-response-opioid-abuse	Senators Collins, King Announce $566,690 to Strengthen Rural Maines Response to Opioid Abuse	2018-11-02	2018	2018-11	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $566,690 to two rural health care organizations in Maine as part of USDA's Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program. The funding will help the organizations purchase network, video-conferencing, and other telecommunications equipment for rural health care facilities that specialize in addressing opioid abuse, treatment, and recovery. Opioid abuse is one of the most serious health epidemics facing Maine, and this crisis is particularly harmful to rural areas, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. These new technology and telemedicine upgrades will help rural Maine's health care providers access the education, training, and resources necessary to help Maine people struggling with substance use disorders enter recovery. The funding was allocated as follows: Maine Quality Counts received $479,679 to fund video-conferencing equipment that will connect partners in the opioid abuse recovery community in Kennebec, Washington, Waldo, Hancock, and Piscataquis Counties Maine Rural Health Collaborative received $87,011 to fund telehealth network and video-conferencing equipment that will connect nine health care facilities in Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, and Washington Counties with partners in Maine and New Hampshire, increasing access to resources and training addressing opioid misuse. The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. For example, this program can link medical service providers in one area to patients in another.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/collins-king-poliquin-celebrate-new-defense-contract-new-balance	Collins, King, Poliquin Celebrate New Defense Contract at New Balance Supporting 900 Maine Jobs	2018-10-30	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	Norridgewock, ME Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Bruce Poliquin visited the New Balance plant in Norridgewock in celebration of New Balance's new contract with the U.S. military to produce athletic footwear for our military recruits domestically. The Senators and Representative toured the production line and delivered remarks congratulating New Balance employees and leadership. Senators Collins and King and Representative Poliquin played a pivotal role in making the contract possible by securing language in the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requiring the Pentagon to consider athletic footwear subject to the Berry Amendment, which states that the U.S. military must purchase 100% American-made gear when possible. The men and women of America's armed forces exemplify the best of our nation's values, and the men and women of New Balance exemplify the best of our nation's manufacturing heritage, said Senator Collins. I am so proud of the hardworking New Balance employees in Skowhegan, Norway, and Norridgewock who have kept the Made in America' label alive and well in the footwear industry and have proven that there is no challenge that American workers cannot meet. This is a win-win that is long overdue, and frankly, it just makes sense, said Senator King. Hundreds of Maine people work hard to make New Balance athletic footwear right here in Norridgewock. And now that the Berry Amendment applies to athletic footwear, Maine-made footwear will, quite literally, continue to support our military, and American military recruits. Today, as we celebrate this legislative achievement, we should really thank the men and women who make these high-quality footwear. They are the heart and soul of New Balance and they're what make Maine such a special place to live. This is a great day for Maine jobs, said Congressman Poliquin. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of these 900 Mainers in Norridgewock, Skowhegan, and Norway, our troops are now provided with 100…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/following-advocacy-maine-congressional-delegation-sanford-rug	Following Advocacy from Maine Congressional Delegation, Sanford Rug Manufacturer is Victorious in Trade Zone Application	2018-10-30	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C.Maine's Congressional Delegation announced today that Sanford-based Flemish Master Weavers prevailed in its application for an exemption from a tariff on yarn it uses to manufacture area rugs in Maine. The ruling by the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board helps to level the playing field for Flemish Master Weavers to compete against foreign competitors and places the company in a strong position for continued growth. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin strongly advocated for Flemish Master Weavers. In November 2016, they sent a letter to the FTZ Board calling for the approval of the company's application. As one of Southern Maine's largest manufacturing employers, Flemish Master Weavers has a vital role in our state's economy and provides good jobs for Maine families, said Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Poliquin. We are pleased that, following our advocacy, Flemish Master Weavers will now be exempt from this harmful tariff. The approval of Flemish Master Weavers' application not only increases the company's competitiveness, but puts it on track to expand operations. Johan Moulin, the President of Flemish Master Weavers of Sanford, Maine, said, This Board approval of our application to keep rug production in Maine resulted from more than three years of intense work by our Senators and Representatives, the Governor, the City of Waterville, the Central Maine Growth Council, our attorney and consulting firm and many others. Senator Collins and Senator King were incredibly strong advocates for us at the Commerce Department in Washington. Governor LePage and Representatives Pingree and Poliquin helped us in working with the many government agencies and business groups that were instrumental in our ability to remedy, at least in large part, a major impediment to our continued growth. In this time of political division, all of them strove together to achieve a positive result for the people of Maine as well as for Flem…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/following-advocacy-maine-congressional-delegation-sanford-rug-manufacturer-victorious-trade	Following Advocacy from Maine Congressional Delegation, Sanford Rug Manufacturer is Victorious in Trade Zone Application	2018-10-30	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C.Maine's Congressional Delegation announced today that Sanford-based Flemish Master Weavers prevailed in its application for an exemption from a tariff on yarn it uses to manufacture area rugs in Maine. The ruling by the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board helps to level the playing field for Flemish Master Weavers to compete against foreign competitors and places the company in a strong position for continued growth. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin strongly advocated for Flemish Master Weavers. In November 2016, they sent a letter to the FTZ Board calling for the approval of the company's application. As one of Southern Maine's largest manufacturing employers, Flemish Master Weavers has a vital role in our state's economy and provides good jobs for Maine families, said Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Poliquin. We are pleased that, following our advocacy, Flemish Master Weavers will now be exempt from this harmful tariff. The approval of Flemish Master Weavers' application not only increases the company's competitiveness, but puts it on track to expand operations. Johan Moulin, the President of Flemish Master Weavers of Sanford, Maine, said, This Board approval of our application to keep rug production in Maine resulted from more than three years of intense work by our Senators and Representatives, the Governor, the City of Waterville, the Central Maine Growth Council, our attorney and consulting firm and many others. Senator Collins and Senator King were incredibly strong advocates for us at the Commerce Department in Washington. Governor LePage and Representatives Pingree and Poliquin helped us in working with the many government agencies and business groups that were instrumental in our ability to remedy, at least in large part, a major impediment to our continued growth. In this time of political division, all of them strove together to achieve a positive result for the people of Maine as well as for Flem…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-texas-instruments-applauds-umaine%E2%80%99s-successful-partnerships-maine	Senator Collins Visits Texas Instruments, Applauds UMaines Successful Partnerships with Maine Companies to Employ Graduates	2018-10-30	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins, President Ferrini-Mundy, and Dean Humphrey South Portland, MEU.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Texas Instruments' (TI) microchip fabrication plant in South Portland to celebrate the partnership between the University of Maine and manufacturers in the state. UMaine's quality education and its ability to adapt to the needs of Maine employers have created a strong demand for UMaine graduates. During her visit to TI, Senator Collins toured the facility, met with business leaders, and delivered remarks at a reception welcoming new UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. Texas Instruments has been a leader in the effort to establish the new Engineering Education and Design Center (EEDC) at UMaine. A groundbreaking for the $80 million facility on the Orono campus is anticipated in spring 2020, with completion scheduled for 2022. The new facility is necessary to accommodate the rapid growth of UMaine's College of Engineering, which has experienced a 70 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment since 2001. Whenever I meet with technology companies throughout our state, I am reminded time and again of the high value they place on UMaine engineering graduates. In addition to cutting-edge research, UMaine provides an outstanding education for the next generation of engineers, said Senator Collins. Working together, UMaine and Texas Instruments are spurring economic growth for our state and new jobs for our people. "I thank Senator Collins for being such a great partner with the University of Maine in our efforts to produce the graduates and new technologies to move Maine's economy forward. I particularity appreciate that the Senator recognizes the critical importance that engineering intensive companies, such as Texas Instruments, play in providing high quality jobs for the citizens of Maine," said Dana Humphrey, Dean of Engineering at the University of Maine. The College of Engineering at UMaine is Maine's only educational institution to offer 11 accredited en…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-nearly-40-million-liheap-funding-maine	Senator Collins Announces Nearly $40 Million in LIHEAP Funding for Maine	2018-10-29	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will release $39,793,122 in funding through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The funding includes $1,454,439 for tribal governments. Preserving LIHEAP funding is a priority for Senator Collins, and she has worked to block attempts to pare back the funding appropriated for this critical program. Earlier this month, Senator Collins led a letter with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, urging him to release LIHEAP funds as quickly as possible. Their letter was signed by 40 bipartisan Senators, including Senator Angus King (I-ME). Moreover, earlier this year, Senators Collins and Reed wrote a letter signed by 44 of their colleagues, including Senator King, calling on the Administration to restore and continue to prioritize funding for LIHEAP in fiscal year 2019. Vulnerable Mainers rely on the LIHEAP program to keep warm during the winter months, said Senator Collins. This funding will help ensure that low-income families and seniors do not have to make the impossible choice between paying for heat and paying for food or medicine. I am pleased that the Administration has acted to distribute these critical funds. The following funding will be allocated to Maine tribes, which is a portion of the $39,793,122 in LIHEAP funds awarded to the State of Maine: Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians $173,100 Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians $173,100 Passamaquoddy Tribe--Indian Township $330,283 Passamaquoddy Tribe--Pleasant Point $460,805 Penobscot Tribe $317,151 LIHEAP is the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, providing vital assistance during both the cold winter and hot summer months. LIHEAP households are among the most vulnerable in the country. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, more than 90 percent of LIHEAP recipients have at least one household me…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-expresses-concern-over-new-state-department-policy-affecting-same-sex	Senator Collins Expresses Concern over New State Department Policy Affecting Same-Sex Partners of Foreign Diplomats and Staff	2018-10-24	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging him to consider how the State Department's recent changes to visa policies for foreign diplomats, diplomatic staff, and United Nation employees may affect same-sex couples from countries that do not recognize same-sex marriages. In many nations around the world, consenting, same-sex relationships are criminalized and same-sex marriage is unavailable. I am concerned that the Department's new policy could deter foreign diplomats from bringing their families to the United States and that it runs counter to how the Department has supported our own American diplomats, Senator Collins wrote. To this end, I urge you to maintain U.S. leadership on LGBT policies globally and to prevent penalizing same-sex couples who face significant challenges to open and legal marriage. I request that the Department ensure maximum flexibility for foreign LGBT workers and provide clear public guidance on how same-sex partners of foreign diplomat A visa holders, whose home countries do not allow same-sex marriage or accept accreditation for American diplomatic same-sex spouses, as well as same-sex partners of employees of international organizations who have G-4 visas, can successfully apply for derivative diplomatic visas. On September 30, the State Department announced that it would begin denying visas tounmarriedsame-sex domestic partners of foreign diplomats and UN employees, requiring those already in the U.S. to get married by the end of the year or leave the country. This policy change affects 105 families currently in the U.S. The State Department's action reverses a policy put into place in 2009 that allowed same-sex domestic partners to obtain visas as household members. Although the State Department's policy changewillostensiblytreat same-sex and heterosexual married couples equally, only 12 percent of countries recognize same-sex marriage. Thus, the policy creates hurdles for same-sex couples considering diplomatic postings in…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-maine-locations-2018-drug-take-back-day-0	Senators Collins, King Announce Maine Locations for 2018 Drug Take-Back Day	2018-10-24	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. Ahead of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday, October 27th, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced the locations of the Maine collection sites. Click HERE for the complete list of locations. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. At a previous Take-Back Event on April 28, 2018, federal, state, and local government entities took back a record 949,046 pounds of unused, expired, or unwanted drugs at more than 5,800 locations across the United States. Over the course of the program, nearly 475 tons of prescription drugs have been safely collected across the country, including more than 14 tons of unwanted medications in Maine alone. When unused prescription drugs collect in our homes, they can create unintended gateways to addiction, fueling the growing heroin and opioid crisis, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We are confident that Mainers will continue to lead efforts to stop the abuse of unused prescription drugs that pose a serious threat to our children, our homes, and our environment. Federal regulations allow pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and other authorized collectors to serve as collection points for unused prescription medication. In 2014, following a bipartisan effort led by Senators Collins and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the Department of Justice granted the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) the ability to participate in prescription drug take-back programs at DoD and VA facilities. This initiative has helped to address the role of prescription drug abuse in many military and veteran suicides. Today, a sweeping opioids package known as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act is expected to be signed into law. Senator Collins, a member of the Senate Health Committee, authored two …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-nearly-55-million-contract-new-crane-pnsy	Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $55 Million Contract for New Crane at PNSY	2018-10-24	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Navy awarded a $54,928,445 contract to Konecranes Nuclear Equipment and Services to provide a 140-ton portal crane to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Kittery. This year, the Navy announced that it would refuel and extend the life of up to seven Los Angeles-class submarines, and that all of those availabilities will be performed at PNSY. The crane will allow PNSY to safely refuel the submarines with new reactor cores. PNSY is known as the gold standard' of our public shipyards due to the efforts of the thousands of hardworking and highly skilled employees, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This contract awarded today will ensure workers have the equipment necessary to perform vital maintenance on Los Angeles-class submarines both safely and efficiently. We welcome this important investment in the infrastructure at PNSY, which is integral to our national security. The funding for the new crane was provided in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Defense Appropriations Bill signed into law in September. Separately, the FY 2019 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill that was also signed into law last month included $40 million to extend Dry Dock #1's portal crane rail, which is needed to support the new crane. Senator Collins is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. Senator King is a member of the Armed Services Committee. The crane is expected to be completed by May 2021.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/sweeping-opioids-package-signed-law-includes-key-provisions-authored-senator-collins	Sweeping Opioids Package Signed into Law, Includes Key Provisions Authored by Senator Collins	2018-10-24	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Senator Collins' provisions will reduce diversion of prescription drugs and support long-term recovery Since the beginning of this year, Congress has approved approximately $8.5 billion to combat the opioid crisis Washington, D.C.- In response to the opioid epidemic that is claiming the lives of tens of thousands of Americans and hundreds of Mainers each year, the President signed theSUPPORT for Patients and Communities Actinto law this afternoon.The comprehensive package received overwhelming bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House. Congress has appropriated $8.5 billion this year towards fighting the opioid crisis. This legislation will help states and communities use these funds to better address the opioid crisis. It also takes important steps towards fulfilling the multipronged approach U.S. Senator Susan Collins has long pushed for to address this public health emergency: prevention, treatment and recovery, and enforcement to stop drug trafficking. Senator Collins, a member of the Senate Health Committee, authored two of the provisions that were included in the final legislation. It is imperative that we work together to combat the opioid crisis, which killed 418 people in Maine last year and led to nearly 1,000 babies being born addicted toopioidsand other drugs in our state alone,said Senator Collins. I am pleased that my bipartisan proposals to allow the safe disposal of unwanted drugs in hospice and bolster peer support networks were included in this comprehensive bill. By supporting prevention, treatment, and recovery, this all-of-the-above approach will provide vital assistance to individuals and families who are struggling with addiction. Senator Collins' provisions are based on two bipartisan bills she authored to help ensure that unused prescription drugs do not fall into the wrong hands and to bolster peer support networks for long-term recovery. Specifically, they include: The Safe Disposal of Unused Medication Actcosponsored by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Shelley Moore Cap…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-nearly-15-million-maine-department-public-safety	Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $1.5 Million for Maine Department of Public Safety	2018-10-23	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $1.5 Million for Maine Department of Public Safety Posted Tue, 10/23/2018 - 08:27 Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Maine Department of Public Safety has been awarded $1,460,169 through the U.S. Department of Justice's National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) to replace outdated fingerprinting technology and to improve access to criminal records. Accurate and timely forensic science and access to criminal records are crucial to ensuring the effectiveness of our criminal system, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This funding will enhance the Maine Department of Public Safety's efforts to protect Maine residents and achieve justice by enhancing its database, maintaining the reliability of fingerprinting scans, and increasing resources for staff. This funding will be used for: Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Support: The funding will help support a new Tri-State AFIS system that is shared by Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Livescan Fingerprinting Replacement: The funding will be used to replace five Livescans in Portland, Rockland, Bangor, Caribou, and Auburn. The upgrade in Livescans across the state will ensure a more efficient and effective processing of information on the state and federal levels, including qualifying records submitted to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Converting Criminal History Records to Electronic Format: The funding will support efforts to convert all State Bureau of Identification files from paper to an easy-to-use electronic format by purchasing scanners for staff. Correcting Court Records: The funding will allow the Maine Judicial Branch to conduct individual file research and correct criminal court records that did not meet the stand…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-nearly-400000-increase-school-safety-auburn-and-lewiston	Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $400,000 to Increase School Safety in Auburn and Lewiston	2018-10-19	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Auburn Police Department has been awarded $376,481 from the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) to enhance and further integrate local school violence prevention efforts between school administrators and law enforcement Protecting students and ensuring that schools remain safe learning environments are of paramount importance, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We welcome this investment, which will help the City of Auburn upgrade its technology to enhance communication between the school and police departments and allow law enforcement to rapidly address potential threats. The City is excited about this grant opportunity as it will help us forge our partnership with our school departments in maximizing the safety of our students, said Jason Moen, Interim Chief of Police of the Auburn Police Department. This grant will play a critical element in our efforts to keep our kids safe. There are a total of 19 schools in Auburn and Lewiston, including two high schools, two middle schools, 13 elementary schools, a regional special education center, and an alternative school. Each city has three dedicated school resource officers that utilize radios to communicate with school administrators, but the current system does not penetrate the buildings or transmit signals beyond school grounds. Administrators and law enforcement must therefore rely on cell phone service that may not be reliable and could lead to further threats to safety during an emergency. Through this grant, the Auburn Police Department will be able to acquire a new radio system with up-to-date technology to facilitate a more coordinated approach to school violence prevention. With the help of local funding, the department will be able to purchase 138 emergency portable radios that will put school staff directly in contact with the 911 communication center. The portable radios will also have GPS tracking that will…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-more-2482515-support-arts-curriculum-portland-and-lewiston	Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $2,482,515 to Support Arts Curriculum in Portland and Lewiston	2018-10-17	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that Side x Side, Inc., will receive a four-year, $2,482,515 grant through the U.S. Department of Education. The funding will support Side x Side's project titled (Re)Imagining Education to promote arts curriculum in Portland and Lewiston elementary schools. The University of Southern Maine will be Side x Side's primary partner. Senators Collins and King wrote a letter to the Department of Education in support of this grant. By creating new learning opportunities and promoting innovative teaching methods through the arts, Side x Side will help children in Portland and Lewiston unlock their full potential and achieve academic success, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We believe that Side x Side is well equipped to carry out this program to enhance access to arts education for all students, regardless of background or ability level. (Re)Imagining Education is designed to address achievement gaps among elementary school students in Portland and Lewiston by helping teachers integrate the arts into the curriculum and assigning trained teaching artists as mentors as part of a Master Teachers program. Objectives of the project include strengthening teachers' knowledge of arts integration and arts appreciation; strengthening students' deeper learning and social-emotional skills to improve learning ability; and establishing a sustainable model for embedding arts integration into schools' professional development, school culture, and community expectations. Side x Side is a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide educators in the Portland and Lewiston school districts with comprehensive arts integration strategies and tools to use in their curricula. The funding for this project was awarded through the Assistance for Arts Education Development and Dissemination Grants Program.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-more-500000-support-arts-curriculum-portland-and-lewiston	Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $500,000 to Support Arts Curriculum in Portland and Lewiston	2018-10-17	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that Side x Side, Inc., will receive a four-year, $524,193 grant through the U.S. Department of Education. The funding will support Side x Side's project titled (Re)Imagining Education to promote arts curriculum in Portland and Lewiston elementary schools. Senators Collins and King wrote a letter to the Department of Education in support of this grant. By creating new learning opportunities and promoting innovative teaching methods through the arts, Side x Side will help children in Portland and Lewiston unlock their full potential and achieve academic success, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We believe that Side x Side is well equipped to carry out this program to enhance access to arts education for all students, regardless of background or ability level. (Re)Imagining Education is designed to address achievement gaps among elementary school students in Portland and Lewiston by helping teachers integrate the arts into the curriculum and assigning trained teaching artists as mentors as part of a Master Teachers program. Objectives of the project include strengthening teachers' knowledge of arts integration and arts appreciation; strengthening students' deeper learning and social-emotional skills to improve learning ability; and establishing a sustainable model for embedding arts integration into schools' professional development, school culture, and community expectations. Side x Side is a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide educators in the Portland and Lewiston school districts with comprehensive arts integration strategies and tools to use in their curricula. The funding for this project was awarded through the Assistance for Arts Education Development and Dissemination Grants Program.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/statement-senator-collins-threatening-letter-bangor-home	Statement from Senator Collins on Threatening Letter to Bangor Home	2018-10-16	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Annie Clark, spokesman for Senator Collins, issued the following statement: Senator Collins's husband, Tom Daffron, today received a threatening letter that the writer claimed was contaminated with ricin, a highly hazardous substance which was used in a previousattack against the United States Senate. Mr. Daffron, their dog, and parts of their home were quarantined while the crime lab undertook an analysis of the premises. The affected areas have now been cleared, and Senator Collins and Mr. Daffron will be able to remain at home tonight. The testing of the letter, as well as the investigation into its origins, remain ongoing. Today's incident is the latest in a series of threats against Senator Collins, her loved ones, and her staff. Senator Collins and Mr. Daffron issued the following statement: We are very grateful for the immediate and professional assistance that we received from the Bangor Police Department, the Maine Crime Lab, the Maine State Police Department, the Capitol Police, the FBI, theOronoHazmat Unit, the Bangor Fire Department, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. We are also truly appreciative of the many well wishes that we received today. Our friends and neighbors have been incredibly kind and have even offered to open their homes to us. We feel blessed to live in such a supportive community.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-maine-tribes-receive-440011-opioid-and-healthcare-grants	Senators Collins, King Announce Maine Tribes Receive $440,011 in Opioid and Healthcare Grants	2018-10-15	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Newsroom Senators Collins, King Announce Maine Tribes Receive $440,011 in Opioid and Healthcare Grants Posted Mon, 10/15/2018 - 10:02 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that four Maine Native communities will receive a total of $440,011 in funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to respond to substance abuse and jumpstart community health projects. These four grants will primarily address the impact of the opioid epidemic on Maine's Native communities. No community is immune from this heartbreaking epidemic that has taken its toll on too many of our peers, friends and neighbors said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This funding will give Maine's tribes additional resources to combat the opioid crisis and protect the health of their community members. The funding will be allocated as follows: Passamaquoddy Indian Township Tribal Government will receive $141,456 to fund the Passamaquoddy Tribal Opioid Response Initiative. Aroostook Micmac Council will receive $64,142 to fund the Micmac Community Health and Wellness Project. Penobscot Indian Nation will receive $93,887 to fund Penobscot Nation Health Department Tribal Opioid Response Grant-Aftercare Services. Wabanaki Health and Wellness will receive $140,l526 to increase the capacity of both the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Wabanaki Health and Wellness to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and develop additional substance abuse prevention initiatives.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-delivers-keynote-address-aroostook-agency-aging-annual-meeting	Senator Collins Delivers Keynote Address at the Aroostook Agency on Aging Annual Meeting	2018-10-12	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Click HERE and HERE for high-resolution photos Caribou, ME U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, delivered the keynote address at the Aroostook Agency on Aging's Annual Meeting this morning at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center. Approximately 130 people attended the event, including Board Members, community members, organization staff, volunteers, community partners and donors, and municipal leaders. During the meeting, board members and officers were elected and employees were recognized for their dedicated service. Recent Census data confirm Maine is the oldest state in the nation, and Aroostook County has a higher median age than the rest of our state. We are working together to build a shared vision for aging that is centered on health, wellness, and community, said Senator Collins. The Aroostook Agency on Aging is dedicated to empowering our seniors to stay in the homes and communities they love, for as long as possible, in safety and security. There is truly no place like home, and your commitment, energy, and compassion make it possible. As the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, Senator Collins has made it a priority to improve health and wellbeing to enable aging in place; stop fraud and financial exploitation targeting seniors; lower the soaring cost of prescription drugs; improve financial security for retirement; and increase funding for biomedical research for diseases and illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's. This week, Senator Collins' legislation to prohibit the use of pharmacy gag clauses was signed into law after passing both the House of Representatives and the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. The Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act and the Know the Lowest Price Act prohibit an egregious practice that concealed lower prescription drug prices from patients at the pharmacy and caused consumers to needlessly overpay. A non-profit serving Aroostook County since 1972, the Aroostook Agency on Aging's mission is…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/legislation-backed-collins-king-support-songwriters-signed-law	Legislation Backed by Collins, King to Support Songwriters Signed into Law	2018-10-11	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded the President's signing ofTheMusic Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill which will ensure songwriters are paid fair value for their songs. The legislation will set up a new simplified licensing entity to make it easier for digital music companies to obtain a license to play songs, and help songwriters be paid a fair market value for their music. My mother started me with piano lessons at age four, and from that young age, I cultivated a life-long appreciation for music and its value in our society,said Senator Collins.Through their artistry, America's talented songwriters and music producers bring people together, enhance our culture, and strengthen our communities. This bipartisan legislation will provide a much needed update to our music and copyright laws and help ensure that these artists receive fair compensation for their inspiring creations. America's talented songwriters provide the soundtrack to our daily lives, and in doing so, inspire countless people across the country and around the world,said Senator King.I know that I'm not alone when I say that my life has been improved by the work of Maine musicians, who share the sound of our state at weekend festivals throughout the summer and via streaming services year-round. This bipartisan legislation will make sure that their compensation is in tune' with their immense contributions to our culture, and allow them to continue to strike a chord with fans worldwide. The Music Modernization Act updates outdated music licensing laws to make it easier for songwriters to be paid when their music is played online by a digital streaming service, or purchased online. According to Standard and Poor's, there were 86 million paying subscribers to digital streaming services, who streamed music 252 billion times in 2016. Revenues generated from online music account for half of the music industry's revenues in 2016. As digital music streaming increases, the number o…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-van-hollen-and-cardin-introduce-protect-our-elections-act	Senators Collins, Van Hollen, and Cardin Introduce Protect Our Elections Act	2018-10-11	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) introduced the Protect Our Elections Act, which would prohibit foreign adversaries from owning and controlling the companies supporting American elections. Our intelligence chiefs have made it clear that hostile foreign actors continue to work to disrupt our democratic process by any means possible. This common-sense legislation with public disclosure and annual reporting is essential in ensuring that our elections are free from foreign influence. We know that the Russians were relentless in their efforts to meddle in the 2016 elections, and that those efforts are ongoing, said Senator Collins. The Protect Our Elections Act would help strengthen the integrity of our election process and instill confidence among voters by requiring election infrastructure vendors to be owned and controlled by American citizens or our closest allies. The need to act is urgent, and I encourage our colleagues to support this commonsense legislation. Our free and fair elections are central to what makes America's democracy an example to the world. We cannot allow Russia or any other foreign adversaries to own our election systems. This isn't just a hypothetical issue it happened right here in my home state of Maryland, said Senator Van Hollen. The bipartisan Protect Our Elections Act would take simple but critical steps to ensure that the nuts and bolts of our elections are secure. Elections are a cornerstone of the rule of law in America and foreign governments will continue to attempt to attack our election systems and work to undermine Americans' faith in their government and the sanctity of the results of a free and fair election contest, said Senator Cardin. All levels of government must therefore implement immediate safeguards to preserve the security and integrity of America's ballot box, whether it is a paper or electronic ballot. The Protection Our Elections Act contains two central provisions: Mandates d…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/poliquin-cheers-reopening-old-town-mill-100-new-jobs	Poliquin Cheers Reopening of Old Town Mill, 100+ New Jobs	2018-10-10	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Bruce Poliquin	P000611	poliquin.house.gov	legacy	OLD TOWN, Maine In another big win for Maine's forest products industry, Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) applauded the announcement of the purchase and reopening of the Old Town Mill by ND Paper. ND Paper estimates the reopened mill will create more than 100 jobs in the area. ND Paper recently purchased the Rumford Paper Mill and is investing and expanding the operations there. With lower taxes and less red tape, Maine's economy is continuing to grow, including today's tremendous investment which will create more than 100 jobs in Penobscot County, said Congressman Poliquin. I'm extremely excited about today's news, one of many big wins for Maine's economy and our forest products industry during the last few years. As our economy continues to expand and the unemployment rate continues to drop, there will be more and more good opportunities and jobs for Maine workers. I look forward to continuing to work with ND Paper during this process and I thank them for continuing to invest in Maine. Group Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (North America) Ken Liu added, The acquisition of the Old Town pulp mill is an outstanding expansion of our presence in the State of Maine. While this investment clearly supports ND Paper's strategic fiber sourcing initiatives, we're simply thrilled for the opportunity to create new, high-paying jobs in Penobscot County.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/bipartisan-legislation-authored-senators-collins-mccaskill-prohibit-pharmacy-%E2%80%9Cgag-clauses%E2%80%9D	Bipartisan Legislation Authored by Senators Collins, McCaskill to Prohibit Pharmacy Gag Clauses Signed into Law	2018-10-10	2018	2018-10	Republican	House	ME	Susan Collins	C001035	www.collins.senate.gov	legacy	Washington, D.C. Today, bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) to ban the use of pharmacy gag clauses was signed into law. The Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act prohibits an egregious practice that concealed lower prescription drug prices from patients at the pharmacy and caused consumers to needlessly overpay. This legislation is a continuation of Senators Collins and McCaskill's bipartisan efforts to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. Insurance is intended to save consumers money. Gag clauses in contracts that prohibit pharmacists from telling patients about the best prescription drug prices do the opposite, said Senator Collins. Who would think that using your debit card to buy your prescription drugs would be less expensive than using your insurance card? It's counterintuitive. Americans have the right to know which payment method provides the most savings when purchasing their prescription drugs. Improving the affordability and accessibility of medication is a priority that Claire and I share, and I was delighted to work with her once again to help reduce the cost of prescription drugs. I am pleased that our bipartisan legislation has been signed into law. Earlier this year, I heard from a woman who was shocked when she found out she could get her mother's prescription for less if she paid out of pocket than through insuranceand was even more upset her pharmacist was prohibited from telling her that was possible, Senator McCaskill said. After months of hard, bipartisan work including support from the President, I'm proud to report back to her and so many other Missourians struggling to pay for their prescriptions, that pharmacy gag clauses are finally a thing of the past. Pharmacy gag clauses prevented pharmacists from proactively telling consumers that their prescription could cost less if they paid for it out-of-pocket rather than using their insurance plan. Before passage of this legislation, pharmacists who disobeyed these clauses fac…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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Press releases

614 rows where party = "Republican", state = "ME" and year = 2018 sorted by date descending

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