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1,380 rows where state = "ME" and year = 2019 sorted by date descending

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https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-completes-another-year-senate-service-perfect-consecutive-vote-record Senator Collins Completes Another Year of Senate Service with Perfect Consecutive Vote Record 2019-12-31 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins extended her streak of not missing a single roll call vote, bringing her total to 7,262 consecutive votes through the end of 2019. She reached the milestone of casting 7,000 votes in June of this year. Senator Collins holds the longest perfect roll call vote record in Senate history. She has been present for every roll call vote that has occurred in the Senate since she was sworn into office in January 1997. Senator Collins is now 12th in Senate seniority. Growing up in Aroostook County, I learned the importance of a strong work ethic at a very early age. I am proud to bring the Maine values of hard work and dedication to the U.S. Senate. It is an honor to represent the people of Maine, and I have always believed it is important to show up for every vote and make sure their voices are heard, said Senator Collins. My vote record was inspired by the legendary Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith, who did not miss a vote for 13 years until surgery forced her to do so. Senator Collins surpassed Senator Smith's record in 2005. Senator Smith cast 2,941 consecutive votes over 13 years before missing her first vote on September 6, 1968. Senator Collins' first vote in the Senate was on January 22, 1997, when she voted to confirm Madeleine Albright as Secretary of State. Her second vote, the same day, was to confirm former Maine Senator Bill Cohen as Secretary of Defense. Senator Collins succeeded Secretary Cohen in the Senate. In addition to not missing any roll call votes, Senator Collins continues to return home to Maine on weekends and during state work periods to meet with constituents and visit communities, businesses, and schools throughout the state. Senator Collins holds the longest perfect, unbroken record of Senate roll call votes, and she has the third-longest consecutive vote streak. The only other two Senators with longer consecutive vote streaks are former Senator William Proxmire (D-WI) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Senator Proxmire, who was first elected … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-december-podcast-king-talks-climate-change-with-us-sens-romney-coons-and-college-of-the-atlantic-president-darron-collins In December Podcast, King Talks Climate Change with U.S. Sens. Romney, Coons, and College of the Atlantic President Darron Collins 2019-12-29 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the December edition of Senator King's monthly Inside Maine podcast. This month's show highlights the impact of climate change on Maine, as well as emerging bipartisan solutions to address this existential crisis. In the first segment, Senator King is joined by Senators Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Chris Coons (D-Del.), to discuss bipartisan steps Congress can take to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. Each of the Senators is a member of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. In the second segment, Darron Collins, President of the College of the Atlantic (COA), joins Senator King to share his thoughts on the specific challenges facing Maine and the work COA is pursuing to reduce their impact on our planet. Climate change is the most serious global crisis in my lifetime, and it's crucial that we act quickly to mitigate the toll that it's already taking on our environment; I want my grandchildren to know that I took the necessary action for them and their future families, said Senator King. The facts are clear, and paint a grave picture for future generations, with the Gulf of Maine warming 99% faster than the world's oceans. With bipartisan initiatives put forth by myself and my colleagues in the Senate and the expertise of institutions like the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor we can and should take steps towards lasting change. A forceful advocate for clean energy solutions wherever they can be found, Senator King is the lead sponsor on a range of bills that encourage energy efficiency and research on clean energy technologies, such as the Joint Long-Term Storage Act, which seeks to speed up deployment of long-duration energy storage technologies through strategic collaboration between federal agencies. He is a cosponsor of the Renewable Electricity Standard Act of 2019 which would put the U.S. on a trajectory to decarbonize the power sector by 2050. In July, Senator King took… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3206 Pingree Announces $125k Drug-Free Communities Grant to Westbrook Schools 2019-12-27 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Pingree Announces $125k Drug-Free Communities Grant to Westbrook Schools Washington, December 27, 2019 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced the Westbrook School Department is the recipient of a$125,000Drug-Free Communities grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policyin cooperation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This federal funding will help Westbrook community partners to educate kids and parents about substance use preventionkeeping our kids healthier and safer for their future, said Pingree.With the rise of substance use disorder in Maine, it's critical that we support communities which are proactively working topreventing substance misuse through support. The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) program supports communities as they mobilize individuals and local organizations to prevent youth substance abuse. The Westbrook School Department received one of 42 new grants to coalitions throughout the country. DFC has awarded nearly $90 million in grants to community organizations throughout the country. Details of the grant is as follows: Coalition Name:Westbrook Partners for Prevention Grant Recipient Organization:Westbrook School Department Project Description: The Westbrook School Department was awarded a FY 2019 Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant in the amount of $125,000 by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in cooperation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The coalition serves Westbrook, Maine, a community of 18,400. The goal of the coalition is to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance misuse. The coalition will achieve its goal by implementing these st… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-stress-urgency-of-arctic-policy-through-new-legislation King, Colleagues Stress Urgency of Arctic Policy Through New Legislation 2019-12-26 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus and member of both the Senate Armed Services Committee and Energy & Natural Resources Committee, joined Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to introduce Arctic Naval Focus Act of 2019. The bill would direct the federal government to recognize the importance of the Arctic region to the United States' national and economic security interests, and to put forward a strategy for the U.S. fleet's ability to operate in the Arctic and respond to challenges. The Arctic is an emerging frontier for international commerce and military capabilities required to protect national interests, which creates new opportunities for the United States and for potential adversaries, said Senator King. As the impacts of climate change continue to affect this vital region, the U.S. must be forward-thinking to establish and protect our leadership role in the Arctic, and Maine's people and resources are a key component of this effort. As the old Latin phrase goes: If you want peace, prepare for war.' The Arctic is seen as a zone of international cooperation and we should aim to maintain this; to do so, we need a strategy on how to assert ourselves in a corner of globe that grows more important by the day, and this legislation is a much-needed step toward that goal. The Arctic Naval Focus Act of 2019 would: Codify a series of findings on the strategic importance of the Arctic. Declare that it is the policy of the U.S. to develop and deploy Naval capabilities to meet the unique and growing challenges in the Arctic. Require the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security to develop a detailed plan within one year for taking concrete steps to create an operational and strategic support system for Arctic Naval surface operations with set deadlines for implementation. Senator King is an advocate for Maine's interests in the North Atlantic and Arctic region, and has worked in Washingt… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-lead-bipartisan-letter-urging-dhs-issue-additional-h-2b-visas-0 Senators Collins, King Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging DHS to Issue Additional H-2B Visas to Support Small Businesses 2019-12-24 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Click HERE to read the letter Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) co-led a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, urging him to increase the number of H-2B visas to provide relief to small businesses struggling to fill seasonal job openings in the current tight labor market. Their letter was co-signed by 12 of their colleagues. The letter calls on Acting Secretary Wolf to increase the existing 66,000 H-2B visa cap to the maximum allowable by law, which is permitted by a provision in the recently-passed appropriations package. DHS used similar authority to provide 15,000 additional H-2B visas in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 and 30,000 visas in fiscal year 2019. The continued tightening of the labor market warrants this increase, the Senators wrote. When the Department of Labor opened the H-2B visa application window this past January, it immediately received applications for over 96,400 H-2B worker positions, nearly triple the 33,000 H-2B visas available for the second half of the fiscal year. This wave of applications reflected a severe shortage of seasonal workers in a very tight labor marketIn some industries, particularly tourism, we fear that the demand for workers so far outstrips the available supply that businesses could be forced to curtail operations, putting at risk the jobs of American workers who fill year-round positions at these establishments. We hope that you see the need for these additional visas, and that you understand the economic importance of them to seasonal businesses around the country, the Senators continued. We also ask that you release the additional visas as soon as possible, so that employers can prepare properly for the upcoming season. H-2B workers support American jobs and small businesses. Bipartisan research has found a direct correlation between increased numbers of H-2B workers and a rise in pay across the board for all employees. As required by law, employers must first make a concerted effort to hire American workers … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3204 Deering Student Wins 2019 Congressional App Challenge for Maines First District 2019-12-23 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Deering Student Wins 2019 Congressional App Challenge for Maine's First District Washington, December 23, 2019 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that Deering High School junior Aidan Blum Levine has won the 2019 Congressional App Challenge for Maine's 1st District. His submission Windition allows users of the app to post up-to-date weather conditions for winter sports. Year after year, the apps Maine students develop are technically impressive, innovative, and solve problems that Americans face in their everyday lives,said Pingree.Aidan Blum Levine's submission show's he really understands Mainers needsan app that helps them track the areas best for winter exploration. Congratulations to him and my thanks to everyone who participated. In Levine'ssubmission, he cited his own interest in winter sports as part of the inspiration for creating his app. The app will allow users to post conditions for sports like skiing and sledding so others can have real-time conditions of the locations without having to go all the way there and see it themselves. The app has many Maine locations already built in, but new locations can be easily suggested by users after they create an account. Levine's app also has a map to find new locations for winter sports. TheCongressional App Challengeis a nationwide competition. Members of Congress must choose to participate for students in their District to be eligible. Winning apps from each District will be displayed and recognized at an event in Washington, D.C. this spring. The Internet Education Foundation coordinates the competition. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-criticizes-lack-of-transparency-in-saudi-arabias-khashoggi-trial King Criticizes Lack of Transparency in Saudi Arabia’s Khashoggi Trial 2019-12-23 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the following statement from Sen. King on today's announcement that five unnamed defendants have been sentenced to death for their role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, while a top aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was cleared of wrongdoing. When Sen. Young and I visited the Kingdom earlier this year, we made clear that for many in Congress any serious improvement in our bilateral relationship requires justice and accountability on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi delivered clearly, publicly and without equivocation, said Sen. King. Between the secrecy surrounding the proceedings (including refusing to name those found guilty) and apparently not accounting for the role the Crown Prince's top aide Saud al-Qahtani played in the murder for a lack of evidence, effort, or possibly both today's announcement does not seem to meet those criteria. If the Crown Prince wishes to truly bring Saudi Arabia into the 21st century and address the trust deficit between our two nations, he must commit to more transparent and complete justice, both now and in the future. I look forward to receiving more information on these developments from US diplomatic and intelligence officials in the near future. In September, Senator King traveled to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman with Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) on the first congressional delegation visit to Saudi Arabia in over a year. In addition to pressing the Crown Prince on the death of Jamal Khashoggi, they also discussed the humanitarian and security crisis in Yemen and releasing pledged humanitarian relief. Following their visit, they wrote an op-ed in Defense News emphasizing the importance of transparency in the ongoing investigation of Khashoggi's murder. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-risch-bill-protecting-energy-grid-from-cyberattacks-becomes-law King, Risch Bill Protecting Energy Grid from Cyberattacks Becomes Law 2019-12-23 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), both members of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, celebrated the enactment of their bipartisan Securing Energy Infrastructure Act into law. The legislation passed as part of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and willdevelop defenses for the U.S. energy grid through partnerships between the National Laboratories and industry. The partnerships will utilize engineering concepts to remove vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to access the grid and the nation's critical infrastructure. The energy grid is central to nearly all facets of 21stcentury life, but remains vulnerable to hackers,said Senator King, co-chair of theCyberspace Solarium Commission.If this critical infrastructure is compromised, our financial transactions, communications networks, healthcare services, and much more will be at risk. This bipartisan, commonsense legislation will help defend our energy grid from attacks launched from thousands of miles away I'm heartened to see this much-needed provision signed into law, and deeply grateful for the partnership of Senator Risch in this effort. The vulnerabilities afflicting our critical infrastructure are deeply troubling and there is strong bipartisan agreement that this issue requires our immediate attention, said Senator Risch. The Securing Energy Infrastructure Act has been many years in the making, and am confident our national laboratories, particularly the INL in my home state of Idaho, will lead this important research aimed at strengthening our grid security and preventing catastrophic cyberattacks. TheSecuring Energy Infrastructure Actaims to remove vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to access the energy grid through holes in digital software systems. Specifically the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act will direct the Department of Energy to examine ways to replace networked systems with less complex connections limiting pa… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/10-million-right-whale-research-additional-funding-maine-lobster-industry-fisheries-signed $10 million for Right Whale Research, Additional Funding for Maine Lobster Industry & Fisheries Signed into Law 2019-12-21 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, announced that provisions she authored to support Maine's lobster industry and fisheries, as well as the National Sea Grant Program and other ocean research efforts, have been signed into law. Earlier this year, Senator Collins took to the Senate floor to discuss the urgent need to address challenges facing Maine's lobster industry. Maine's fishermen have been careful stewards of our natural resources for generations, said Senator Collins. This critical funding will build on their efforts by investing in our coastal communities and in the health of ocean ecosystems. This legislation also includes provisions I fought for that will support the lobster industry, which supports the livelihoods of thousands of hardworking Mainers. The fiscal year (FY) 2020 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) funding bill allocates $73.33 billion, which is $9.15 billion more than last year's funding level. Provisions championed by Senator Collins to benefit Maine include: National Sea Grant Program: The bill includes $74 million for the National Sea Grant Program. Senator Collins has long worked to provide and protect funding for the National Sea Grant Program and was key in securing funding in the FY 2019 appropriations bill, which distributed funding awards earlier this year to advance our understanding of the American lobster and support a regional lobster extension program. In April, Senator Collins joined a bipartisan group of Senators in rejecting the Administration's proposal to eliminate funding for the National Sea Grant Program. o Lobster Research:Within the funding for Sea Grant, $2 million is included to support Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank American lobster research priorities. This research will focus on stock resilience in the face of environmental changes, including life history parameters, distribution and abundance, and species interactions, with the purpose of informing future management decisions. … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/185-million-support-breweries-signed-law-following-senator-collins%E2%80%99-advocacy $18.5 Million to Support Breweries Signed into Law Following Senator Collins Advocacy 2019-12-21 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, announced that the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill has been signed into law. The legislation included a total of $18.5 million for breweries in Maine and across the country, Maine is home to the best craft brewers in the country. In addition to producing exceptional beer, they are a major contributor to our state's economy and a significant source of jobs, said Senator Collins. I worked to secure significant wins for Maine's small brewers in the new tax law and to provide this important extension, and as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I fought for additional funding that will continue to assist Maine's more than 135 breweries in the appropriations package. Provisions championed by Senator Collins to benefit Maine's craft beverage industry include: A 1-year extension of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA) Senator Collins is a cosponsor of the standalone bill, which reduces taxes, compliance burdens, and regulations for brewers, cider makers, vintners, and distillers. The reduced excise taxes were set to expire at the end of this year after being included in the tax reform law Senator Collins voted for at the end of 2017. $15 milliona $5.5 million increasefor U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative, which enhances the product safety and supply of barley and wheat. The goal of the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative is to develop as quickly as possible effective control measures that minimize the threat of Fusarium head blight (scab) to the producers, processors, and consumers of wheat and barley. $3.5 millionan increase of $1 million for the Small Grains Genomic Initiative, which funds important barley, oat, and wheat research to improve quality and breeding. Earlier this year, Senator Collins met with members of the Maine Brewers Association. During the meeting, the members expressed… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/25-million-northern-border-regional-commission-signed-law-%E2%80%93-5-million-increase $25 million for Northern Border Regional Commission Signed into Law a $5 million increase 2019-12-21 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that $25 million for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), $5 million more than last year, was signed into law as part of the appropriations package. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins worked to secure this $5 million increase in the final bipartisan appropriations agreement. The funding includes $4 million for initiatives that seek to address the decline in forest-economies through the region and $750,000 for the State Capacity Grant Program, which was included in legislation led by Senator Collins that was incorporated in the 2018 Farm Bill. The Northern Border Regional Commission serves as a critical resource for northern and central Maine, making investments to help increase job growth and boost local economies, said Senator Collins. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I fought to include this $25 million investment, which will support some of the most economically disadvantaged areas of Maine and neighboring states. NBRC provides grants for projects throughout northern and central Maine, as well as northern New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont, spurring economic and community development. In 2019, NBRC awarded more than $6 million to projects in Maine. The NBRC was a key partner in the multiagency Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT) originally requested in March 2016 by Senators Collins and Angus King (I-ME) supporting economic development strategies and efforts that help pave the way for job growth in a region experiencing economic distress. The January 2017 EDAT assessment highlighted the importance of the NBRC and its potential to leverage federal resources to support the viability of impacted mill communities and help grow Maine's rural economy. Since its creation in 2008, Senator Collins has advocated for the NBRC and introduced a bill to reauthorize it in March 2018 with SenatorsJeanne Shaheen (D-NH),Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gill… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/28-billion-secured-senator-collins-support-homelessness-prevention-programs-signed-law $2.8 Billion Secured by Senator Collins to Support Homelessness Prevention Programs Signed into Law 2019-12-21 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill has been signed into law. This bipartisan bill includes more than $2.8 billion to help communities design and implement local solutions to end homelessness. This important funding will bolster Maine's efforts to assist our state's most vulnerable citizens with additional resources and promote their health, independence, and overall wellbeing. I am particularly pleased that this bill supports new housing vouchers for veterans who have sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms as well as initiatives to find permanent housing for homeless and runaway youth,said Senator Collins. As the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I have championed funding for these important programs, and I will continue to work to prevent and end homelessness in Maine. Provisions authored by Senator Collins that will benefit Maine homeless programs include: Homeless Assistance Grants:The bill includes $2.4 billion in order to fully meet the renewal needs of the Homeless Assistance Grant program and provides an additional $290 million for Emergency Solutions Grants. Homeless Youth:The bill includes $80 million in funding for efforts to end youth homelessness in both urban and rural areas. In August, Senator Collinsannounced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)awarded $3,354,677 to the Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing) tocombat youth homelessness throughout the State of Maine. Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence: The bill includes $50 million for new rapid rehousing projects that serve victims and survivors of domestic violence. Section 8 Vouchers: The bill includes $25 million for new family unification vouchers of which $20 million will be used to prevent youth exiting foster care from becoming homeless. Housing for Veterans… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-hassan-legislation-help-americans-save-retirement-signed-law Collins, Hassan Legislation to Help Americans Save for Retirement Signed into Law 2019-12-21 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) announced that several provisions from the Retirement Security Act of 2019 they introduced earlier this year have been signed into law as part of the final Appropriations agreement. As the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, ensuring that more people are better prepared for retirement is one of my top priorities, said Senator Collins. The bipartisan provisions Senator Hassan and I authored would significantly improve the financial security of many Americans by reducing the cost and complexity of retirement plans, especially for small businesses, and encourage individuals to save more for retirement. According to the non-partisan Center for Retirement Research, there is an estimated $7.7 trillion gap between the savings American households need to maintain their standard of living in retirement and what they actually have. A recent Gallup poll found that only 54 percent of working Americans believe that they will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement. The provisions of the Retirement Security Act included in the appropriations agreement would address this issue by: Enabling more businesses to join multiple employer plans (MEPs) to offer retirement programs to their employees. The bill would allow businesses to share the administrative burden of a retirement plan, which helps lower costs, without requiring a connection, or nexus, between them. Making MEPs a more attractive option for small businesses. The bill would protect members of a MEP from losing their tax benefits if one employer in a MEP fails to meet the minimum criteria necessary for retirement plans to obtain tax benefits. Facilitating adoption of retirement plans. The bill would simplify certain safe harbor rules to provide greater flexibility while also improving employee protection. Helping more small employers offer retirement plans. The bill would increase the current tax credit for small employer plan startup costs and create a new credit to he… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/funding-secured-senator-collins-improve-maine%E2%80%99s-transportation-housing-signed-law Funding Secured by Senator Collins to Improve Maines Transportation & Housing Signed into Law 2019-12-21 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill was signed into law last night. This legislation will make critical improvements to Maine's transportation infrastructure, promote economic development, and provide housing assistance for the most vulnerable populations. At its core, this legislation is about creating and sustaining jobs through investments that make critical improvements to our infrastructure and provide housing assistance to low-income families. It also contains key reforms, such as improving oversight of the FAA's aviation safety and aircraft certification programs, said Senator Collins. As the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I have championed funding for these important programs, and I will continue to work to improve Maine's infrastructure. Earlier this year, Senator Collinsdelivered remarks from the Senate floorurging her colleagues to support the FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill, which provides $74.3 billion in new funding, $3.2 billion more than last year.Provisions secured by Senator Collins that will benefit Maine include: Department of Transportation: BUILD Grants: The bill includes $1 billion for BUILD grants, which provide federal assistance for vital transportation projects across the country. Since the program's inception in 2009, Maine has received a BUILD grant each year, totaling $205 million, due to Senator Collins' advocacy. Aviation: The bill fully funds the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) safety programs to address safety concerns raised by two recent Boeing 737-MAX crashes. An increase of $67 million is provided to hire staff with specialized expertise, such as in human factors, as well as to improve training of aviation safety inspectors. The FAA is also directed to respond to all recommendations issued … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/legislation-protect-endangered-animals-signed-law Legislation to Protect Endangered Animals Signed into Law 2019-12-21 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) announced that the Rescuing Animals With Rewards (RAWR) Act has been signed into law. This bipartisan bill will help protect endangered animals by combatting wildlife trafficking and poaching. Specifically, the RAWR Act authorizes the State Department to offer financial rewards for information that leads to the disruption of wildlife trafficking networks. The RAWR Act was included as part of the final appropriations packages. Wildlife trafficking is a transnational crime that requires a coordinated and sustained global effort to effectively combat it, said Senator Collins. Our bipartisan bill is one step closer to becoming law, building upon efforts to deter this illegal activity by allowing the State Department to offer rewards for information to help stop wildlife traffickers. When wildlife traffickers, poachers, and profiteers kill magnificent animals like elephants, giraffes, and rhinos, they degrade critical ecosystems and rob the world of a piece of our humanity and shared history on this planet,said Senator Merkley. It's time to use every tool at our disposal to crack down on these destructive international crime networks. I'm grateful to our bipartisan coalition for pushing this legislation forward, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law. Wildlife crimes undermine national security and cause immense cruelty to animals, said Marty Irby, executive director at Animal Wellness Action. We applaud Senator Collins for championing a creative solution to crack down on these international crimes and are grateful for her tremendous leadership on animal protection issues across the board. "The slaughter of wildlife for their parts is one of the greatest threats to rare species across the world," said Penny Eastman, deputy director of federal affairs at Animal Wellness Action. "Sen. Collins has stepped up again with this anti-wildlife trafficking measure to combat the merciless killing of the planet's wildlife." Senators Collins… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/legislation-supported-senators-collins-king-combat-rising-prescription-drug-prices-signed Legislation Supported By Senators Collins, King to Combat Rising Prescription Drug Prices Signed into Law 2019-12-21 2019 2019-12 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 that legislation they cosponsored to combat anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name drug companies to block entry of lower-cost generic drugs has been signed into law. The Creating and Restoring Equal Access To Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act will deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking cheaper generic alternatives from entering the marketplace. The CREATES Act was included as part of the final appropriations package. Skyrocketing drug prices are making it more and more difficult for Americans to access the treatments they require. As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, addressing the rising costs of these medications is one of my top priorities, said Senator Collins. The CREATES Act combats the gaming that some brand companies engage in to unlawfully extend their market power and pricing controls. This bipartisan bill will have an immediate impact on the development and approval of generic and biosimilar drugs. The rising cost of prescription medication continues to be one of the most pressing issues facing Maine people, Senator King said. Whether it's a senior on a fixed income, or a working family trying to make ends meet, or an employer paying for private insurance, these prices are a serious challenge for Maine people across our state. Increased access togeneric medications will help Maine citizens take care of their health without having to sacrifice other important necessities because no one should be forced to choose between taking an important medicine or putting food on the table. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the bill would result in a $3.9 billion net decrease in the federal deficit. Savings to consumers and private insurers likely would be far greater many billions of dollars more. The legislation is strongly supported by a broad coalition of groups, including AARP, American College of Physicians, Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs, and many others. A coal… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-secures-more-4-billion-heating-assistance-weatherization-programs Senator Collins Secures More Than $4 Billion for Heating Assistance, Weatherization Programs 2019-12-21 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, announced that $3.74 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and $305 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) were signed into law last night as part of the fiscal year 2020 appropriations package. Senator Collins strongly advocated for this funding and secured an increase of $50 million for LIHEAP and $51 million for WAP compared to the previous fiscal year. Earlier this month, Senators Collins and Jack Reed (D-RI) sent letters to the leadership of two Appropriations Subcommittees urging them to provide robust funding for LIHEAP and WAP. The LIHEAP and Weatherization programs are essential to helping thousands of Mainers keep warm during the cold 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. In October, Senators Collins and Reed led a bipartisan coalition of Senators in sending aletterto the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for LIHEAP as quickly as possible under the continuing resolution. In April, Senators Collins and Reed joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to introduce legislationthat would reauthorize WAP through 2024. In 2018, nearly 28,000 Maine households received assistance benefits through the LIHEAP program. Since 2010, Maine has received $22.1 million in WAP funding and has been able to successfully weatherize nearly 2,500 homes and rental units across the state, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Senator Collins also secured report language encouraging the Department of Housing and Urban Development to continue coordinating its weatherization projects with its efforts to remove lead-based hazards from homes. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/legislation-supported-by-senators-collins-king-to-combat-rising-prescription-drug-prices-signed-into-law Legislation Supported By Senators Collins, King to Combat Rising Prescription Drug Prices Signed into Law 2019-12-21 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced that legislation they cosponsored to combat anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name drug companies to block entry of lower-cost generic drugs has been signed into law. The Creating and Restoring Equal Access To Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act will deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking cheaper generic alternatives from entering the marketplace. The CREATES Act was included as part of the final appropriations package. Skyrocketing drug prices are making it more and more difficult for Americans to access the treatments they require. As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, addressing the rising costs of these medications is one of my top priorities, said Senator Collins. The CREATES Act combats the gaming that some brand companies engage in to unlawfully extend their market power and pricing controls. This bipartisan bill will have an immediate impact on the development and approval of generic and biosimilar drugs. The rising cost of prescription medication continues to be one of the most pressing issues facing Maine people, Senator King said. Whether it's a senior on a fixed income, or a working family trying to make ends meet, or an employer paying for private insurance, these prices are a serious challenge for Maine people across our state. Increased access togeneric medications will help Maine citizens take care of their health without having to sacrifice other important necessities because no one should be forced to choose between taking an important medicine or putting food on the table. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the bill would result in a $3.9 billion net decrease in the federal deficit. Savings to consumers and private insurers likely would be far greater many billions of dollars more. The legislation is strongly supported by a broad coalition of groups, including AARP, American College of Physicians, Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs, and many others. A coalitio… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-against-tax-bill-wealthy Golden Votes Against Tax Bill for the Wealthy 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Jared Golden G000592 golden.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON To protect the interests of working Mainers in the Second District, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted yesterday against repealing a cap on the federal tax deduction for state and local taxes paid. The bill's elimination of the cap on the state and local taxes (SALT) deduction would have disproportionately wealthy states like California and New York, costing the government billions in funding that could instead benefit working Mainers. Just two years after Congress gave away trillions of dollars to corporations and the wealthy, they want to give away billions more to the rich and well-connected. Removing the SALT deduction cap is just another example of Washington making policies that benefit the powerful in New York and California, but not doing anything for working folks in Maine. This is why people think Congress doesn't work for them and why I voted against it, said Golden. The billions of dollars used to uncap the SALT deduction would be better spent supporting programs that improve care for Maine veterans or by extending tax relief to make health care more affordable and promote renewable Maine energy sources like biomass. Golden believes the $184.5 billion in tax money lost by uncapping these deductions could be better spent on tax priorities that don't include subsidizing the rich. Examples include: Reinstating the deduction for union dues; Permanently extending the Health Coverage Tax Credit to help workers negatively affected by trade and pension difficulties afford their health insurance, and; Enacting the BTU Act to incentivize the use of biomass for affordable, energy-efficient heating in homes and businesses and help grow Maine's forest products industry. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/bill-introduced-collins-king-authorize-coins-honoring-george-hw-bush-and-barbara-bush Bill Introduced by Collins, King to Authorize Coins Honoring George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush Passes Senate 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 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 Senate unanimously passed legislation they co-authored to authorize the U.S. Department of the Treasury to mint $1 coins honoring former president George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush. President and Mrs. Bush, who had strong ties to the State of Maine, both passed away in 2018. The legislation, which they introduced in February along with Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Rob Portman (R-OH), now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives to be considered. I treasured the friendship of President and Mrs. Bush and deeply miss visiting them each summer at their family home at Walker's Point. They loved the State of Maine and its people, and we are so proud to have had them as our neighbors and our friends, said Senator Collins. Courage, duty, honor, and compassion defined their lives and their public service to our nation. I am proud to have led this legislation to create this coin to help pay tribute to President and Mrs. Bush's wonderful legacy and serve as a reminder of their lasting contributions to Maine and our country. President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush dedicated their lives to public service and to improving the lives of others, and thanks to their special connection to Maine, our state's citizens got to see that dedication firsthand, said Senator King. The former President's remarkable career spanned decades, beginning in the U.S. Navy and leading him to Congress, the CIA, and the highest office in the land. The First Lady's passion for the wellbeing of children helped thousands in Maine at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland, and many more around the country. The Bushes left legacies marked by dignity, generosity, and devotion I'm proud to have led this bill to honor their service to our nation. The President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush Dollar Coin Act authorizes Treasury to mint $1 coins honoring the former president and first lady for the year 2019. Since thes… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-delegation-calls-secretary-ross-protect-maine-lobster-industry-unfair-right-whale Maine Delegation Calls on Secretary Ross to Protect Maine Lobster Industry from Unfair Right Whale Conservation Measures 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Click HERE to read the Maine Delegation's letter Washington, D.C.In a continuation of their strong, bipartisan advocacy for fair treatment of Maine's lobster industry, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, urging him to take action to protect Maine's lobster industry from unfairly burdensome regulations as the U.S. seeks to protect the right whale population. The Maine lobster fishery has repeatedly made significant improvements to their practices and modifications to their gear to protect right whales, including the implementation of weak link mandates in 1997 and again in 2007, Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Golden wrote. Notably, there have been no entanglements directly attributed to Maine lobster gear in more than 15 years. Further, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) data demonstrates that ropes removed from right whales in recent years are not typical of those used in Maine's lobster fishery. This past summer, alone, eight mortalities were observed in the Canadian Gulf of St. Lawrence, representing the deaths of roughly two percent of the remaining population, the Maine Delegation continued. It has been incredibly frustrating for Maine lobstermen to see that, after implementing multiple effective mitigation measures over the past two decades, they continue to be the primary target of NOAA's burdensome regulations. NOAA's own data identify a number of other sources that contribute to North Atlantic right whale entanglements and serious injury and morality, including ship strikes and Canadian snow crab gear, the latter of which has entangled and killed at least 14 North Atlantic right whales. The Maine Delegation listed a number of policies the Commerce Department should pursue that would protect right whales while factoring in the true risk posed by various marine industries, including: Resolving the territorial dispute of the Gray Zone surrounding Machias Seal Is… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-collins-king-bill-improve-broadband-data-maps Senate Passes Collins, King Bill to Improve Broadband Data Maps 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, co-chair of the Senate Rural Broadband Caucus, lauded the passage of the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act, a bipartisan bill they co-sponsored. The legislation would increase the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadband availability maps by improving the process by which broadband data is collected. As a native of Aroostook County, I know how important access to high-speed Internet is to the vitality of rural communities, said Senator Collins. Broadband helps unlock the Internet's economic benefits by allowing residents to work from home, upgrade their skills through online education, stay connected to their families as they age in place, and access health care through advances in telemedicine. This bipartisan legislation would help us bridge the digital divide between urban and rural communities through improved data collection. One of my top legislative priorities is expanding high-speed broadband access to rural Maine communities but if we don't have good data to work from, we won't know where to make the right investments, said Senator King. We need to improve and modernize the FCC's method of data collection so rural communities in need aren't left behind in an increasingly digital world. This is a critically important step that will make sure we'reinvesting in the right places to close the digital divide and bring all of the internet's opportunities to rural Maine people. Specifically, the Broadband DATA Act: Requires the FCC to collect highly detailed service availability data from wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers. Requires strong parameters for service availability data collected from mobile broadband providers to ensure accuracy. Asks the FCC to consider whether to collect verified coverage data from state, local, and tribal governments, as well as from other entities. Creates a process for consumers, state, local, Tribal governments, and other g… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-historic-funding-increases-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-diabetes-and-other Senator Collins Announces Historic Funding Increases for Alzheimers, Diabetes, and Other Biomedical Research 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the Senate approved a $2.6 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)bringing total funding for the NIH to $41.7 billionas part of the appropriations package. The legislation is expected to be signed into law by the President this evening. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and the Chairman of the Aging Committee, Senator Collins is a champion for greater investments in biomedical research. There is simply no investment that promises greater returns for America than our investment in biomedical research. Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer's, with their devastating human and financial costs, are powerful examples of the urgent need to keep our momentum in research funding going, said Senator Collins. I am so encouraged that Congress worked in a bipartisan way to provide this transformative funding that will bring tangible hope to so many Americans. The appropriations bill provides $2.8 billion for Alzheimer's research, a $350 million increase over last year. This funding builds on significant increases Senator Collins, a founder of the Alzheimer's Task Force in the Senate, has secured in recent years. It also meets the funding level the NIH estimates it will need to find a means of effectively treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias within six years. Senator Collins co-authored the National Alzheimer's Project Act in 2011, which set the national goal of preventing and treating Alzheimer's by the year 2025. In addition. the appropriations bill includes $26.5 million for the Alzheimer's Disease Program at the Administration for Community Living, a $3 million increase over last year, and $15.5 million for the CDC's Alzheimer's Programs, a $10 million increase. This includes $10 million for the implementation of the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, legislation Senator Collins authored to create a public health infrastructure to combat this disea… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bill-introduced-by-collins-king-to-authorize-coins-honoring-george-hw-bush-and-barbara-bush-passes-senate Bill Introduced by Collins, King to Authorize Coins Honoring George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush Passes Senate 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Senate unanimously passed legislation they co-authored to authorize the U.S. Department of the Treasury to mint $1 coins honoring former president George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush. President and Mrs. Bush, who had strong ties to the State of Maine, both passed away in 2018. The legislation, which they introduced in February along with Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Rob Portman (R-OH), now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives to be considered. I treasured the friendship of President and Mrs. Bush and deeply miss visiting them each summer at their family home at Walker's Point. They loved the State of Maine and its people, and we are so proud to have had them as our neighbors and our friends, said Senator Collins. Courage, duty, honor, and compassion defined their lives and their public service to our nation. I am proud to have led this legislation to create this coin to help pay tribute to President and Mrs. Bush's wonderful legacy and serve as a reminder of their lasting contributions to Maine and our country. President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush dedicated their lives to public service and to improving the lives of others, and thanks to their special connection to Maine, our state's citizens got to see that dedication firsthand, said Senator King. The former President's remarkable career spanned decades, beginning in the U.S. Navy and leading him to Congress, the CIA, and the highest office in the land. The First Lady's passion for the wellbeing of children helped thousands in Maine at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland, and many more around the country. The Bushes left legacies marked by dignity, generosity, and devotion I'm proud to have led this bill to honor their service to our nation. The President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush Dollar Coin Act authorizes Treasury to mint $1 coins honoring the former president and first lady for the year 2019. Since these c… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-backs-bill-to-help-rural-mothers-access-healthcare King Backs Bill to Help Rural Mothers Access Healthcare 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of Bipartisan Policy Center's Rural Health Task Force, announced his cosponsorship of the Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services (Rural MOMS) Act. The bipartisan bill would improve data collection, expand services, and award funding to help ensure that new and expecting moms living in rural communities get the care they need. New and expecting mothers deserve access to high-quality care, no matter where they live, said Senator King. Unfortunately, rural communities are lagging behind on access to this vital, life-saving care and that's unacceptable. As one of the most rural states in the nation, this challenge is uniquely pressing in Maine, which is why I'm proud to cosponsor this bipartisan, commonsense legislation to protect the health of women during and after pregnancy. TheRuralMOMSActwould: Improve Rural Maternal and Obstetric Care Databy directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to coordinate efforts with respect to maternal mortality and morbidity, report on women's health conditions according to sociocultural and geographic contexts, and emphasize research on pregnancy-related deaths.Award New Rural Obstetric Network Grantsto establish regional innovation networks to improve maternal mortality and morbidity as well as birth outcomes.Expand Existing Federal Telehealth Grant Programsto include birth and postpartum services as part of telehealth networks and to allow federal funding to be used for ultrasound machines, fetal monitoring equipment, and other pregnancy-related technology.Establish a New Rural Maternal and Obstetric Care Training Demonstrationto support training for family medicine physicians, obstetricians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, midwives, doulas, and other professionals to provide maternal care services in rural community-based settings.Report on Maternal Care in Rural Areasto identify the locations of gaps in maternity care,disparities in maternal health in rural areas by ra… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-calls-on-secretary-ross-to-protect-maine-lobster-industry-from-unfair-right-whale-conservation-measures Maine Delegation Calls on Secretary Ross to Protect Maine Lobster Industry from Unfair Right Whale Conservation Measures 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C.In a continuation of their strong, bipartisan advocacy for fair treatment of Maine's lobster industry, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, urging him to take action to protect Maine's lobster industry from unfairly burdensome regulations as the U.S. seeks to protect the right whale population. The Maine lobster fishery has repeatedly made significant improvements to their practices and modifications to their gear to protect right whales, including the implementation of weak link mandates in 1997 and again in 2007, Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Golden wrote. Notably, there have been no entanglements directly attributed to Maine lobster gear in more than 15 years. Further, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) data demonstrates that ropes removed from right whales in recent years are not typical of those used in Maine's lobster fishery. This past summer, alone, eight mortalities were observed in the Canadian Gulf of St. Lawrence, representing the deaths of roughly two percent of the remaining population, the Maine Delegation continued. It has been incredibly frustrating for Maine lobstermen to see that, after implementing multiple effective mitigation measures over the past two decades, they continue to be the primary target of NOAA's burdensome regulations. NOAA's own data identify a number of other sources that contribute to North Atlantic right whale entanglements and serious injury and morality, including ship strikes and Canadian snow crab gear, the latter of which has entangled and killed at least 14 North Atlantic right whales. The Maine Delegation listed a number of policies the Commerce Department should pursue that would protect right whales while factoring in the true risk posed by various marine industries, including: Resolving the territorial dispute of the Gray Zone surrounding Machias Seal Island to eliminate confusing, contrasting fis… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-collins-king-bill-to-improve-broadband-data-maps Senate Passes Collins, King Bill to Improve Broadband Data Maps 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, co-chair of the Senate Rural Broadband Caucus, lauded the passage of the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act, a bipartisan bill they co-sponsored. The legislation would increase the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadband availability maps by improving the process by which broadband data is collected. As a native of Aroostook County, I know how important access to high-speed Internet is to the vitality of rural communities, said Senator Collins. Broadband helps unlock the Internet's economic benefits by allowing residents to work from home, upgrade their skills through online education, stay connected to their families as they age in place, and access health care through advances in telemedicine. This bipartisan legislation would help us bridge the digital divide between urban and rural communities through improved data collection. One of my top legislative priorities is expanding high-speed broadband access to rural Maine communities but if we don't have good data to work from, we won't know where to make the right investments, said Senator King. We need to improve and modernize the FCC's method of data collection so rural communities in need aren't left behind in an increasingly digital world. This is a critically important step that will make sure we'reinvesting in the right places to close the digital divide and bring all of the internet's opportunities to rural Maine people. Specifically, the Broadband DATA Act: Requires the FCC to collect highly detailed service availability data from wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers.Requires strong parameters for service availability data collected from mobile broadband providers to ensure accuracy.Asks the FCC to consider whether to collect verified coverage data from state, local, and tribal governments, as well as from other entities.Creates a process for consumers, state, local, Tribal governments, and other groups to ch… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3203 Pingree Statement on USMCA 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today released the following statement regarding the House of Representatives vote on the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA): The last NAFTA upended Maine's economy, causing our mills to shutter and thousands of good jobs to be outsourced.Though Democrats improved the deal originally handed to us by the Trump administration, this agreement ultimately does not do enoughto keep Maine jobs from being sent abroad or to bring back morethan 24,000 jobs Mainers lost because of NAFTA. USMCA also ignores the reality of the climate crisis and does not hold global polluters to account. It's foolishly shortsighted to not even mention the words climate change' in this major trade agreement. This omission will have major implications for Maine, which breathes the prevailing winds from the west and already has the highest rates of asthma in the nation. Our state is also grappling with the fastest warming waters in the world and rising sea levels. Without environmental protection in the agreement, the climate crisis will only accelerate and irreversibly damage Maine. It's been two decades since the original NAFTA, and the new agreement will likely be in place for years. We were given an incredible opportunity to negotiate the significant issues in the original NAFTA and prioritize both people and the planet. Unfortunately, USCMA does neither. For the future of our workforce and environment, I will vote no. Pingree was joined in opposing USMCA by several Maine stakeholders: NAFTA was a bad deal for Maine workers. While this new deal contains some improvements, it does nothing to prevent future outsourcing of manufacturing jobs and won't effectively enforce labor standards, which is why we ultimately can't support it.Mark Vigliotta, Maine Machinists Union Council President The new NAFTA fails to include even baseline environmental standards or to address climate change. It outsources jobs and pollution to Mexico and ignores the threat that climate change poses to the United State… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/300-million-senator-collins-secured-new-mma-training-ship-passes-senate $300 Million Senator Collins Secured for New MMA Training Ship Passes Senate 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Click HERE for additional photos of the future ship for MMA Washington, D.C. Following months of negotiation and advocacy by U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, the Senate voted to pass the final Appropriations agreement, which includes $300 million for the construction and acquisition of a new training vessel for Maine Maritime Academy (MMA). Senator Collins wasthe Chairman of the negotiating Committee that brokered the agreement between the House and the Senate for the Transportation and Housing appropriations bill. The agreement now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. This ship is a critical training asset for Maine Maritime Academy, which is why I fought to include this funding throughout the Appropriations process, said Senator Collins. Maine Maritime Academy provides an exceptional education that fully prepares students to excel in the Navy, Coast Guard, and the maritime industry. This new ship will help provide rigorous instruction and crucial maritime training for MMA students for decades to come. This appropriation demonstrates that Congress believes in the value of our State Maritime Academies and our role in support of economic and national security. I am especially pleased with the level of support we have received from Senator Susan Collins who, as Chair of the Senate's Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, has had the laboring oar in approving funding for this huge accomplishment, said Dr. William J. Brennan, President of Maine Maritime Academy. Senator Collins strongly opposed the Administration's proposal earlier this year that requested $205 million to construct a smaller training vessel for MMA. It would have been inferior to a ship funded in fiscal year (FY) 2019 for Massachusetts Maritime Academy despite the fact that Maine Maritime Academy has nearly the same number of Coast Guard-licensed graduates and the same need for at-sea training. In addition, changing the design would have required the U.S. Maritime A… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/bill-co-sponsored-collins-king-crack-down-illegal-robocalls-headed-president%E2%80%99s-desk-be Bill Co-Sponsored by Collins, King to Crack Down on Illegal Robocalls Headed to Presidents Desk to be Signed into Law 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. Amidst ever-increasing numbers of robocall scams, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously today to pass legislation co-sponsored by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King to increase federal law enforcement's authority to put a stop to these illegal calls. The Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act makes it easier for regulators to find scammers, increases civil forfeiture penalties for those who are caught, promotes call authentication and blocking adoption, and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address impediments to criminal prosecution of robocallers who intentionally flout laws. The bill now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. Americans are being inundated with illegal robocalls that are not only a major nuisance, but also a tool that is often used by con artists to perpetrate crimes, said Senator Collins, the Chairman of the Aging Committee. Over the course of the two dozen hearings I have held to expose and examine scams, it is clear that a coordinated approach is necessary to put a stop to these illegal calls. The TRACED Act is a significant step forward that will help prevent fraudulent calls and put criminals on notice that they will be caught and brought to justice. I am pleased that the final version of the legislation was improved by including an extension of the statute of limitations for caller-ID spoofing' violations, which I advocated for. At best, illegal robocalls are a major annoyance at worst, they're scams that target our most vulnerable citizens, said Senator King. Today's overwhelmingly bipartisan vote reflects the obvious: Republicans, Democrats and Independents can all agree that it's time to hang up on illegal robocalls once and for all. The TRACED Act will: Broaden the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to levy civil penalties of up to $10,000 per call on people who intentionally flout telemarketing restrictions; Extend the window for the FCC to catch and … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-cantwell-provision-help-americans-high-health-care-costs-be-signed-law Collins, Cantwell Provision to Help Americans with High Health Care Costs to be Signed into Law 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 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) announced today that a provision they pushed for to assist families who are struggling to afford high medical costs was included in the appropriations package that passed the Senate today. The legislation now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. For those households that spend more than 7.5 percent of their income on medical expenses, Senators Collins and Cantwell's provision, which is based on the Medical Expense Savings Act they introduced earlier this year, would allow them to continue to deduct these costs from their tax bill when they file in 2020 and 2021. Millions of Americans rely on the medical expense deduction. The burden of high medical expenses falls disproportionately on seniors and those with disabilities. 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. 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. My provision temporarily restoring the income threshold to 7.5 percent for all taxpayers became law in 2017, and the bipartisan legislation we passed today will extend this vital deduction to help improve the affordability of health care for nearly 20,000 Mainers and millions of Americans." More than 200,000 Washingtonians claim the medical expense deduction to lower their health care costs, Senator Cantwell said. Extending this provision will help families with high medical bills pay for unexpected medical costs and life-saving treatment. The medical expense deduction provides important tax relief that helps offset the cost of acute and chronic medical conditions for older Americans, children, and individuals with disabilities,… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-smith%E2%80%99s-bill-combat-lyme-and-other-tick-borne-diseases-headed-president%E2%80%99s-desk-be Collins, Smiths Bill to Combat Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases Headed to Presidents Desk to be Signed into Law 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that legislation they authored to improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for tick-borne diseases passed the Senate today as part of the appropriations package. The legislation now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. The Kay Hagan Tick Act unites the effort to confront the alarming public health threat posed by Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, which have risen exponentially from approximately 30,000 cases in 2003 to an estimated 450,000 last year. Senators Collins and Smith renamed the bill in honor of former Senator Kay Hagan, who passed away on October 28th, 2019, due to complications from the tick-borne disease known as the Powassan virus. In Maine alone, there were approximately 1,400 new cases of Lyme disease in 2018, a sharp increase from the 752 cases in 2010. Far too many Americans with Lyme disease experience a complex diagnostic odyssey that takes months or even years, while suffering severe and debilitating symptoms. In addition to the physical and emotional toll that Lyme disease takes, it is also expensive. Medical costs of Lyme disease are estimated at $1.3 billion per year. When accounting for indirect medical costs, including loss of work, the annual costs balloon to $75 billion per year. Congress' passage of the Tick Act is a major victory for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who contract Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses each year. I am grateful for the countless advocates who shared their struggles with these diseases and conveyed the urgent need for this comprehensive, bipartisan bill, said Senator Collins. With a national effort the Tick Act would establish, we can slow the spread of these devastating tick-borne illnesses and protect our health. I've said that for the sake of Americans' health and well-being, we need to get this bill over the finish line, said Senator Smith. The number of Lyme disease cases is on the rise, and we need to address this so … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bill-co-sponsored-by-collins-king-to-crack-down-on-illegal-robocalls-headed-to-presidents-desk-to-be-signed-into-law Bill Co-Sponsored by Collins, King to Crack Down on Illegal Robocalls Headed to President’s Desk to be Signed into Law 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. Amidst ever-increasing numbers of robocall scams, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously today to pass legislation co-sponsored by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King to increase federal law enforcement's authority to put a stop to these illegal calls. The Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act makes it easier for regulators to find scammers, increases civil forfeiture penalties for those who are caught, promotes call authentication and blocking adoption, and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address impediments to criminal prosecution of robocallers who intentionally flout laws. The bill now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. Americans are being inundated with illegal robocalls that are not only a major nuisance, but also a tool that is often used by con artists to perpetrate crimes, said Senator Collins, the Chairman of the Aging Committee. Over the course of the two dozen hearings I have held to expose and examine scams, it is clear that a coordinated approach is necessary to put a stop to these illegal calls. The TRACED Act is a significant step forward that will help prevent fraudulent calls and put criminals on notice that they will be caught and brought to justice. I am pleased that the final version of the legislation was improved by including an extension of the statute of limitations for caller-ID spoofing' violations, which I advocated for. At best, illegal robocalls are a major annoyance at worst, they're scams that target our most vulnerable citizens, said Senator King. Today's overwhelmingly bipartisan vote reflects the obvious: Republicans, Democrats and Independents can all agree that it's time to hang up on illegal robocalls once and for all. The TRACED Act will: Broaden the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to levy civil penalties of up to $10,000 per call on people who intentionally flout telemarketing restrictions; Extend the window for the FCC to catch and take … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-house-vote-to-advance-articles-of-impeachment King Statement on House Vote to Advance Articles of Impeachment 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump: The House's vote to impeach the President means that I will soon join the rest of the Senate in swearing a special oath that states: I solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of Donald Trump, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help me God.' The word solemn captures the moment correctly this is an immense responsibility and a monumental event in the history of this nation. When the trial begins in the Senate I will do everything I can to fulfill this new oath as well as my core oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. I hope and expect that each of my colleagues will do the same. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-priorities-king-initiatives-included-in-federal-budget-bills Maine Priorities, King Initiatives Included in Federal Budget Bills 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today cast his vote for appropriations bills that will fund the government through September 30, 2020. The appropriations package funds a number of King-backed policy priorities for Maine, and includes language from numerous King-backed bills. This appropriations package supports much needed national priorities: it works to cut prescription drug costs, support Gold Star families, boost rural health, and much, much more. It makes one wonder: why aren't we doing more legislating like this? said Senator King. The answer, of course, is that the Majority Leader is blocking nearly all legislation from the floor. This obstruction is holding Congress back from enacting bipartisan, commonsense policies that will make life better for the American people let's stop playing political games, and recommit ourselves to the work we were sent here to accomplish: coming together around shared goals and doing the work of the American people. King-backed provisions included in today's bills include: Health, Wellness, and Public Safety Lowering Drug Prices. Senator King is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Creating and Restoring Equal Access To Equivalent Samples Act, which is included in the appropriations package. The legislation closes anti-competitive loopholes used by brand-name pharmaceutical companies to block lower-cost generic drugs from entering the marketplace.Fighting Opioid Abuse. The legislation provides $3.8 billion to fight opioid abuse, focused on improving treatment and prevention efforts. Senator King has made combating the opioid crisis one of his top priorities in Washington, and several of his provisions were included in the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act which passed in October 2018.Researching Gun Violence. The legislation includes $25 million for gun violence research at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). Senator King is a cosponsor of the Gun Violence Prevention Act, which would authorize up to $50 million i… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-young-bill-improve-safety-training-maine-fishermen-passes-house Golden, Young Bill to Improve Safety Training for Maine Fishermen Passes House 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Jared Golden G000592 golden.house.gov     legacy VIDEO: Golden cites story of Maine fisherman injured on the job, calls for passage of FISH SAFE Act WASHINGTON To better train fishermen to protect themselves from injuries and fatalities on the job, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and Congressman Don Young (AK-At Large) passed theFunding Introduction for Safety, Health, and Security Avoids Fishing Emergencies(FISH SAFE)Actthrough the House yesterday. The bipartisan legislation restores important federal funding that supports the work of local organizations to offer safety training to commercial fishermen and perform safety research. Whether they work in a mill, a lobster boat, or somewhere in between, I'm focused on keeping Maine workers safe on the job so they can continue to provide for their families,said Congressman Golden.Fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in our country, but Maine is lucky to have local organizations training our fishermen and lobstermen to minimize risks and protect themselves. The FISH SAFE Act restores funding to support this kind of training, as well as research new fishing safety practices. I'm proud to partner with Republican Don Young of Alaska to pass this commonsense bill through the House and I'll continue to work with our senators to make sure it advances in the Senate. In 2018, the federal share of fishing safety training and research grants was reduced to 50 percent from 75 percent, leaving local organizations with higher costs to run these important safety programs. Golden and Young's bipartisan bill would raise the federal share for the grants back up to 75 percent. The FISH SAFE Act would also reauthorize the safety training and research programs for $6,000,000 a year for 2019-2021. Organizations in Maine benefitting from the safety training and research grants include: IAMAW Maine Lobstering Union Local 207, Maine Coast Fisheries Association, Maine Lobstermen's Association, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, and Fishing Partnership Support Services. A commercial fisherman is 23 times more likely to die on the job … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3202 Pingree Statement on House Vote on Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald J. Trump 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement in advance of the US House of Representatives vote to approve two articles ofimpeachmentagainst the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump: Among the vast powers assigned to the Congress by our Founders, the impeachment of a chief executive is without question our gravest responsibility with the exception of a declaration of war. Sincethe beginning of the impeachment inquiry, I have been mindful of this responsibility every day. Although the President and his staff have obstructed the work of Congress at every opportunity, the process carried out by the House has been scrupulously thorough and fair. That process has uncovered a mountain of evidence that President Trump has committed serious crimes. The evidence revealed in public hearings, provided by witness after witness issuing sworn testimony under oath, was consistent, powerful, and incontrovertible. The fact is that President Trump directly extorted a foreign government and an ally of the United States by withholding vital defense assistance in order to target a political rival. The efforts of the White House and its allies to distort this fact have not succeeded. The Constitution demands that a President be removed for 'high crimes and misdemeanors.' It does not define such crimes and leaves the matter up to the Members of Congress. I believe President Trump's actions meet that threshold. For that reason, I will vote today to impeach Donald Trump on both articles of impeachment before us. I will vote to impeach Donald Trump for abusing his power and I will vote to impeach him for obstructing our investigation into that abuse. I will cast these votes with a heavy heart but without hesitation. Our failure to hold President Trump to account will not only embolden him to continue to work with foreign governments to interfere with our political process and the next election, it will provide an invitation for his successors to do the same. For the health of our presidency, to up… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-rural-broadband-king-urges-fcc-make-it-a-top-priority On Rural Broadband, King Urges FCC Make it a Top Priority 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, joined dozens of his Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prioritize sustainable rural broadband networks as the FCC considers new rules to govern the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) program. In the bipartisan letter, the senators push the FCC to exercise proper oversight over RDOF funding, and ensure that projects are maximizing the long-term impact of their efforts to improve broadband access throughout rural America. If our rural communities are to survive and flourish, our rural constituents need access to services that are on par with those in urban areas, the senators write. By contrast, it would be an inefficient use of resources to promote services that cannot keep pace with consumer demand and the evolution of broadband in urban areas. As the FCC moves forward to adopt new rules in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund proceeding, we urge you to promote the deployment of networks that will be sustainable even as new advancements are made and are capable of delivering the best level of broadband access for the available USF budget for many years to come. Digital connectivity in rural regions is a key priority ofSenator King's economic agendaandrural broadband roadmap, to help modernize and grow Maine's rural economy, support innovation, and create jobs. In July, he cosponsored theBroadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act, which will increase the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadband availability maps by improving the process by which broadband data is collected. In May, Senators King and Capito reintroduced legislation tomeasure the economic impact of broadbandso state and federal policymakers can understand the return they will receive on any investments in digital infrastructure. The legislation had previouslypassed the Senate in December, but was not taken up by the House.In April, Senator King joined his colle… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3199 Maine Delegation Urges USDA to Heed Maine DACFs Comments on Interim Final Hemp Rule 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and Jared Golden (D-ME-02) wrote to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), urging the agency to heed the formal comments and concerns of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) on the interim final rule on domestic hemp production. A signed copy of the letter can be foundhere. As you know, theAgriculture Improvement Act of 2018created a legal pathway for domestic hemp production. We appreciate that [USDA] published an interim final rule on October 31, 2019 to implement those farm bill provisions, providing much needed certainty for hemp growers and businesses in Maine and across the country.said the Maine delegation in the letter.As [USDA] works on drafting a final rule, we respectfully request your consideration of DACF's comments and concerns. Hemp, which is grown in every Maine county,contains less than .3% THC and can be used for a variety of products, including rope, textile, and paper. Thestate's hempindustry has seen massive growth over the past year;more than2,000 acres were planted in 2019, up from 550 acres in 2018. Much of that acreage is cultivated for CBD use. The interim final rule was released by USDA on October 31, 2019. Public comment is open on the hemp rule untilDecember 31, 2019. In addition to supporting DACF's comments on USDA's interim rule establishing a Domestic Hemp Production Program, the delegation has also worked to address the financing obstacles that hemp-producing businesses have encountered.Despite the 2018 Farm Bill'slegalization ofhemp, the lack of clarity in federal banking regulations has created major barriers for hemp businesses. Pingree and Golden firstwrote to USDAon April 30, 2019 to ask for expedited hemp regulations and clarity for Maine farmers. The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act (HR 1595), passed the House with support from Pingree and Golden in September. The bill wouldallowfinancial institutionsto se… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3200 Pingree Votes to Pass FY2020 Funding Bills 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, today voted to pass two legislative packages that comprise alltwelveFY2020 funding bills. H.R. 1865 andH.R. 1158, together will fund the federal governmentthrough September 30, 2020. The bills make historic investments inmany ofPingree's priorities,including local and organic agriculture, election security, early childhood education, medical research including gun violence prevention, and shipbuilding at Bath Iron Works. The bills also prevent many disastrous cuts proposed in the Trump administration's FY 2020 budget, including slashing environmental protection and safety net programs. Pingree released the following statement after the vote: Today's vote reflects a historic investment in the lives of Mainers. Withthese spending bills, Congress is investing in thehealth, safety, and livelihoodsof the American people, including$425 million for election securitygrants, $25 million for gun violence prevention research, record-high funding for Head Start, and major support for economic development and infrastructure programs. I hope to see swift action from the Senate and President. Mainers are relying on us to provide certainty and protect our country from another senseless government shutdown. This isn't a perfect bill by any meansthough we blocked theWhite House and Republican-controlled Senatefrom enactingdevastating cuts to programs we care deeply about,I'm disappointed to see some importantprovisionsleft out of the final bill, including those prohibiting offshore drilling in the Gulf of Maine, addressing the Trump administration's gutting of Title X and international family planning assistance, and the disastrous and cruel border policies of the Trump administration. Still, I believe this billdelivers critical investments toMainers, and so I voted in favor. Highlights of H.R. 1865 include: $495.1 million for Land and Water Conservation Fund, a $56 million increase from FY19 $2.57 billion for National Park S… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3201 Pingree Votes for FY2020 Funding Bills, Including Support for Local and Organic Agriculture, Food Waste Prevention 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today voted forthe passage of the FY2020 appropriations bills, including agricultural funding which she pushed for with her seat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. The FY2020 agreement included funding for programs Pingree helped to create in the 2018 Farm Bill. Farmers feed America, and they deserve support from Congress during these difficult economic times. With this bill's passage, we will help make our food system better for farmers, consumers, and our environment,said Pingree.This bill will invest inruralcommunities acrossMaine andthe country, helping producers fight against climate change, meet consumer demand for organic food, sell products locally in their communities, and access the research and data they need to thrive. As an organic farmer with many small growers selling into local and organic markets in my district, I've seen firsthand how important investments like these can be to farmers' success. Funding for agriculture was included in the domestic priorities and international assistance bill, one of two appropriations bills passed by the House today. Highlights inH.R. 1158include: $20.4 million for the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), a new umbrella program championed by Pingree in the 2018 Farm Bill to streamline existing local and regional food system programs $20 million for the National Organic Programto enforce organic standards and fight against import fraud, an $8 million increase over FY19 funding levels $6million for the Organic Transition Program, up from $5 million in FY19 $400,000 to implement the Food Loss and Waste Liaison at USDA, a new position championed by Pingree in the 2018 Farm Bill $1 million for USDA composting pilot, new money to implement provisions Pingree authored in the 2018 Farm Bill Ensures the term climate change is preserved in USDA's publications The bill requires USDA to issue a final origin of livestock rule 180 days after the bill's passage, based on the… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/appropriations-package-includes-legislation-support-volunteer-firefighters-first-responders Appropriations Package Includes Legislation to Support Volunteer Firefighters & First Responders Authored by Collins, Cardin 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), a Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, announced that several provisions from the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) they introduced earlier this year were included in the final Appropriations agreement. The agreement was passed by the House today. Once passed by the Senate, the bill will proceed to the President's desk to be signed into law. Across our nation, volunteer firefighters play a critical role in helping to ensure the safety of our communities and the well-being of our neighbors. Maine is largely a rural state, and more than 90 percent of firefighters are volunteers. Without these public-spirited citizens, many smaller communities would be unable to provide firefighting and other emergency services at all, said Senator Collins. These bipartisan provisions Senator Cardin and I authored would protect cost-effective incentives that support the brave men and women who volunteer to protect their communities. Local communities depend on the public service of volunteer firefighters to stay safe and secure. These modest changes will make it easier for communities across Maryland and nationwide to recruit and retain the bravest men and women who are ready to defend against whatever might come next,said Senator Cardin.Protecting our communities from harm is one of the most basic functions of government and I am proud to partner with Senator Collins on this bipartisan effort. In order to bolster recruitment and retention, many fire and EMS agencies now provide benefits, including non-monetary gifts, reductions in property taxes, per-call payments, stipends, or retirement benefits. The Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act would allow communities to provide volunteer firefighters and EMS workers with up to $600 per year of property tax reductions or other incentives, without those benefits being subject to federal income tax and withholding. This would ea… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-hassan-legislation-help-americans-save-retirement-included-year-end-appropriations Collins, Hassan Legislation to Help Americans Save for Retirement Included in Year-End Appropriations Package 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) announced today that several provisions from the Retirement Security Act of 2019 they introduced earlier this year were included in the final Appropriations agreement. The agreement was passed by the House today. Once passed by the Senate, the bill will proceed to the President's desk to be signed into law. As the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, ensuring that more people are better prepared for retirement is one of my top priorities, said Senator Collins. The bipartisan provisions Senator Hassan and I authored would significantly improve the financial security of many Americans by reducing the cost and complexity of retirement plans, especially for small businesses, and encourage individuals to save more for retirement. This bipartisan measure that I worked on with Senator Collins will help small businesses provide retirement plans to their employees, which will make it easier for workers to save enough to maintain their standard of living after they retire, Senator Hassan said. I look forward to seeing this measure signed into law. According to the non-partisan Center for Retirement Research, there is an estimated $7.7 trillion gap between the savings American households need to maintain their standard of living in retirement and what they actually have. A recent Gallup poll found that only 54 percent of working Americans believe that they will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement. The provisions of the Retirement Security Act included in the appropriations agreement would address this issue by: Enabling more businesses to join multiple employer plans (MEPs) to offer retirement programs to their employees. The bill would allow businesses to share the administrative burden of a retirement plan, which helps lower costs, without requiring a connection, or nexus, between them. Making MEPs a more attractive option for small businesses. The bill would protect members of a MEP from losing their tax benefits if on… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-smith%E2%80%99s-bipartisan-bill-combat-lyme-and-other-tick-borne-diseases-advances Collins, Smiths Bipartisan Bill to Combat Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases Advances 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that legislation they authored to improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for tick-borne diseases was included in the Appropriations agreement unveiled today. The agreement must now receive a vote in both the House and the Senate. Once passed by both chambers, the bill will proceed to the President's desk to be signed into law. The Kay Hagan Tick Act unites the effort to confront the alarming public health threat posed by Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, which have risen exponentially from approximately 30,000 cases in 2003 to an estimated 450,000 last year. Senators Collins and Smith renamed the bill in honor of former Senator Kay Hagan, who passed away on October 28th, 2019, due to complications from the tick-borne disease known as the Powassan virus. In Maine alone, there were approximately 1,400 new cases of Lyme disease in 2018, a sharp increase from the 752 cases in 2010. Far too many Americans with Lyme disease experience a complex diagnostic odyssey that takes months or even years, while suffering severe and debilitating symptoms. In addition to the physical and emotional toll that Lyme disease takes, it is also expensive. Medical costs of Lyme disease are estimated at $1.3 billion per year. When accounting for indirect medical costs, including loss of work, the annual costs balloon to $75 billion per year. The inclusion of the Tick Act in the appropriations agreement is a major victory for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who contract Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses each year. I am grateful for the countless advocates who shared their struggles with these diseases and conveyed the urgent need for this comprehensive, bipartisan bill, said Senator Collins. With a national effort the TICK Act would establish, we can stop the spread of these devastating tick-borne illnesses and protect our health. I've said that for the sake of Americans' health and well-being, we need to move this bi… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-delegation-urges-usda-heed-maine-dacf%E2%80%99s-comments-interim-final-hemp-rule Maine Delegation Urges USDA to Heed Maine DACFs Comments on Interim Final Hemp Rule 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C.Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and Jared Golden (D-ME-02) wrote to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), urging the agency to heed the formal comments and concerns of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) on the interim final rule on domestic hemp production. A signed copy of the letter can be foundhere. As you know, theAgriculture Improvement Act of 2018created a legal pathway for domestic hemp production. We appreciate that [USDA] published an interim final rule on October 31, 2019 to implement those farm bill provisions, providing much needed certainty for hemp growers and businesses in Maine and across the country.said the Maine delegation in the letter.As [USDA] works on drafting a final rule, we respectfully request your consideration of DACF's comments and concerns. Hemp, which is grown in every Maine county,contains less than .3% THC and can be used for a variety of products, including rope, textile, and paper. Thestate's hempindustry has seen massive growth over the past year;more than2,000 acres were planted in 2019, up from 550 acres in 2018. Much of that acreage is cultivated for CBD use. The interim final rule was released by USDA on October 31, 2019. Public comment is open on the hemp rule untilDecember 31, 2019. In addition to supporting DACF's comments on USDA's interim rule establishing a Domestic Hemp Production Program, the delegation has also worked to address the financing obstacles that hemp-producing businesses have encountered.Despite the 2018 Farm Bill'slegalization ofhemp, the lack of clarity in federal banking regulations has created major barriers for hemp businesses. Pingree and Golden firstwrote to USDAon April 30, 2019 to ask for expedited hemp regulations and clarity for Maine farmers. The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act (HR 1595), passed the House with support from Pingree and Golden in September. The bill wouldallowfinancial i… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-approves-military-widow%E2%80%99s-tax-repeal Senate Approves Military Widows Tax Repeal 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Click HERE to watch Senator Collins' floor remarks. Click HERE for high-resolution video. Click HERE to read Senator Collins' floor remarks. Washington, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Doug Jones (D-AL) announced that their legislation to repeal the Military Widow's Tax passed the Senate as a part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill now goes to the President to be signed into law. Prior to the vote, Senator Collins delivered remarks from the Senate floor. Legislation to repeal the widow's tax has been repeatedly introduced in the Senate for nearly two decades to roll back the law, which was enacted in 1972. Since introducing the bill in March, Senators Collins and Jones have worked tirelessly to garner support among their colleagues in both the Senate and House, as well as makethe case on behalf of the 67,000 surviving spousesincluding more than 260 in Mainewho are impacted by the military widow's tax. Under their leadership, the bill earned a record-high 78 total cosponsors in the Senate. This provision we secured in the NDAA is a major victory for surviving military and retiree spouses to whom we are deeply indebted. The Military Widow's Tax was an unfair offset that prevented as many as 67,000 surviving spousesincluding more than 260 from Mainefrom receiving the full benefits they deserve, said Senator Susan Collins. This problem goes back decades, but this year we finally solved it once and for all. I appreciate the overwhelming support we received from our colleagues as well as veterans advocates who helped make this possible. When we introduced this legislation, we knew we were fighting an uphill battle on behalf of these surviving spouses. Together, we were undeterred by the task and committed to them that this was the year it would finally get done. There is no more noble of a cause than to do the right thing for our military families who have lost their loved one in service to our country. It is for these surviving spouses and their fa… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-secures-225-million-port-improvements-final-appropriations-agreement Senator Collins Secures $225 Million for Port Improvements in Final Appropriations Agreement 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the final Appropriations agreement unveiled yesterday provides $225 million to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of our nation's ports. The legislation also prioritizes small grant applications for ports like Portland, Eastport, and Searsport. Senator Collins was the Chairman of the negotiating Committee that brokered the agreement between the House and the Senate for the Transportation and Housing appropriations bill. The ports provision was the culmination of months of negotiation and advocacy by Senator Collins. The agreement must now receive a vote in both the House and the Senate. Once passed by both chambers, the bill will proceed to the President's desk to be signed into law. Maine's seaports are utilized daily by businesses and customers across our state, helping to facilitate the sale of Maine products and creating jobs here in our state, said Senator Collins. As the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I worked hard to secure this funding, which will have a lasting impact on these economic engines along our coast. By helping to upgrade and improve the competitiveness of Maine's ports, these investments will provide a boost for the entire state. Federal port infrastructure funding is critical to developing maritime assets throughout the State of Maine, said Jon Nass CEO of the Maine Port Authority. This type of grant funding secured by Senator Collins in recent years has helped create and support ports across Maine's coastline, stimulating its economy and making Maine competitive in a global economy. Senator Collins' continued support for maritime infrastructure is incredibly valuable for all of Maine. The Maine Port Authority looks forward to working with Senator Collins to make use of this program. Eligible projects for the $225 million for port funding include road and rail connections, docks, wharves, piers, and landside structures. Small … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-casey-introduce-bill-reauthorize-older-americans-act Senators Collins, Casey Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Older Americans Act 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Click HERE to watch Senator Collins' remarks on the introduction of the OAA. Click HERE to download high-resolution video. Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob Casey (D-PA), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Aging Committee, introduced the Modernization of the Older Americans Act Amendments. Their legislation would reauthorize and strengthen the Older Americans Act (OAA), the nation's preeminent law focused on the wellbeing of seniors. Since 1965, the OAA has supported and improved the lives of seniorsparticularly those who are low-incomethrough programs that promote nutrition (e.g. Meals on Wheels), improve transportation options, support caregivers, offer employment and community service opportunities, and prevent abuse and neglect. This critical law was last reauthorized in 2016. For more than half a century, the Older Americans Act has served as a lifeline for millions of seniors by enriching their lives and improving their overall health, said Senator Collins. The bipartisan legislation we introduced today will help ensure that the OAA continues to match the goals we set to permit seniors to age with dignity, respect, and community. Getting this bill across the finish line to strengthen the OAA's programs while providing more flexibility for states to meet local needs is one of my highest priorities as Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee. I urge all of our colleagues to support its swift passage and enactment. The Older Americans Act serves more than 11 million Americans each year, including 400,000 people throughout Pennsylvania. It represents our commitment to the generations who made us who we are today and lifts up the seniors who need our help the most, said Senator Casey. This bill, which is the culmination of five roundtables with 34 Area Agencies on Aging representing 63 percent of the counties in Pennsylvania, and includes provisions to provide more support for grandparents raising grandchildren, to strengthen innovation to better show the value of Older Americans A… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-urges-usda-to-heed-maine-dacfs-comments-on-interim-final-hemp-rule Maine Delegation Urges USDA to Heed Maine DACF’s Comments on Interim Final Hemp Rule 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C.Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and Jared Golden (D-ME-02) wrote to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), urging the agency to heed the formal comments and concerns of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) on the interim final rule on domestic hemp production. A signed copy of the letter can be foundhere. As you know, theAgriculture Improvement Act of 2018created a legal pathway for domestic hemp production. We appreciate that [USDA] published an interim final rule on October 31, 2019 to implement those farm bill provisions, providing much needed certainty for hemp growers and businesses in Maine and across the country.said the Maine delegation in the letter.As [USDA] works on drafting a final rule, we respectfully request your consideration of DACF's comments and concerns. Hemp, which is grown in every Maine county,contains less than .3% THC and can be used for a variety of products, including rope, textile, and paper. Thestate's hempindustry has seen massive growth over the past year;more than2,000 acres were planted in 2019, up from 550 acres in 2018. Much of that acreage is cultivated for CBD use. The interim final rule was released by USDA on October 31, 2019. Public comment is open on the hemp rule untilDecember 31, 2019. In addition to supporting DACF's comments on USDA's interim rule establishing a Domestic Hemp Production Program, the delegation has also worked to address the financing obstacles that hemp-producing businesses have encountered.Despite the 2018 Farm Bill'slegalization ofhemp, the lack of clarity in federal banking regulations has created major barriers for hemp businesses. Pingree and Golden firstwrote to USDAon April 30, 2019 to ask for expedited hemp regulations and clarity for Maine farmers. The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act (HR 1595), passed the House with support from Pingree and Golden in September. The bill wouldallowfinancial instit… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-king-backed-priorities-for-maine-nation-in-defense-bill Senate Passes King-Backed Priorities for Maine, Nation in Defense Bill 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today cast his vote in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, by a vote of 86-8. The legislation includes key policy wins to ensure national security, support Maine jobs, strengthen energy security and provide paid parental leave for federal employees. Each year, the National Defense Authorization Act is example of how legislating should work: thoughtfully crafted, with an emphasis on bipartisanship and national security, said Senator King. This year is no exception. This NDAA will make America safer, support Maine people protecting our nation, and provide much-needed benefits for public servants including a pay increase for and paid parental leave for federal employees. It's a monumental piece of legislation, and I look forward to seeing the President sign it into law. Senator King successfully advocated for the inclusion of many provisions that will improve national security and support Maine jobs, including: FUNDING SHIPBUILDING PRIORITIES.The legislation authorizes more than $5 billion for the procurement of 3 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in fiscal year 2020, which Bath Iron Works (BIW) can compete to build. It also authorizes $484 million to fund future year DDG-51 procurements. In addition, the legislation authorizes funds for the completion of the DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, all of which are being built at BIW.PRIORITIZING CYBERSECURITY STRATEGY.The legislation emphasizes the importance of building the capabilities of the United States to prevent and respond to cyberattacks by bad actors.Senator King has long been an active voice urging additional focus on cyber threats, and as co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, he is leading a bipartisan group to review the threats facing America in cyberspace and provide strategic guidance and policy recommendations on how to defend ourselves against cyberthreats.INCREASING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FUNDI… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-support-resolution-recognizing-critical-role-2020-census Collins, King Support Resolution Recognizing Critical Role of 2020 Census 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 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) joined their colleagues on a bipartisan resolutionto emphasize the importance of a fair and accurate 2020 Census. The resolution encourages individuals, families, and households across the United States to take part in the Census so that all communities can be counted. The Census is a central part of America's democracy that dates back to our nation's founding, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. Census data provides critical information to ensure accurate representation in Congress, and is a major factor that determines federal funding for much-needed local investments into roads, schools, and more. We urge Maine people to take all necessary steps to ensure they are properly counted when this process begins in 2020. The 2020 Census is a constitutionally-mandated undertaking. The data collected is used to properly allocate seats for the U.S. House of Representatives and state legislatures. It also directs more than $800 billion annually in federal funding to state and local communities. The resolution recognizes the importance and significance of the 2020 Census and encourages all people to participate. It concludes that it is the civic duty of every person to ensure that the 2020 Census is as accurate as possible by counting everyone once, only once and in the right place. For a PDF copy of the resolution, click here. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/funding-secured-senator-collins-improve-maine%E2%80%99s-transportation-housing-advances Funding Secured by Senator Collins to Improve Maines Transportation & Housing Advances 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill unveiled today makes critical improvements to Maine's transportation infrastructure, promotes economic development, and provides housing assistance for the most vulnerable populations. The legislation now awaits a vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives. At its core, this legislation is about creating and sustaining jobs through investments that make critical improvements to our infrastructure and provide housing assistance to low-income families. It also contains key reforms, such as improving oversight of the FAA's aviation safety and aircraft certification programs, said Senator Collins. As the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I have championed funding for these important programs, and I will continue to work to improve Maine's infrastructure. Earlier this year, Senator Collinsdelivered remarks from the Senate floorurging her colleagues to support the FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill, which provides $74.3 billion in new funding, $3.2 billion more than last year.Provisions secured by Senator Collins that will benefit Maine include: Department of Transportation: BUILD Grants: The bill includes $1 billion for BUILD grants, which provide federal assistance for vital transportation projects across the country. Since the program's inception in 2009, Maine has received a BUILD grant each year, totaling $205 million, due to Senator Collins' advocacy. Aviation: The bill fully funds the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) safety programs to address safety concerns raised by two recent Boeing 737-MAX crashes. An increase of $67 million is provided to hire staff with specialized expertise, such as in human factors, as well as to improve training of aviation safety inspectors. The FAA is also directed … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/funding-secured-senator-collins-support-homelessness-prevention-programs-advances Funding Secured by Senator Collins to Support Homelessness Prevention Programs Advances 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill includes more than $2.8 billion to help communities design and implement local solutions to end homelessness. The legislation now awaits a vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives. This important funding will bolster Maine's efforts to assist our state's most vulnerable citizens with additional resources and promote their health, independence, and overall wellbeing. I am particularly pleased that this bill supports new housing vouchers for veterans who have sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms as well as initiatives to find permanent housing for homeless and runaway youth,said Senator Collins. As the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I have championed funding for these important programs, and I will continue to work to prevent and end homelessness in Maine. Provisions authored by Senator Collins that will benefit Maine homeless programs include: Homeless Assistance Grants: The bill includes $2.4 billion in order to fully meet the renewal needs of the Homeless Assistance Grant program and provides an additional $290 million for Emergency Solutions Grants. Homeless Youth: The bill includes $80 million in funding for efforts to end youth homelessness in both urban and rural areas. In August, Senator Collins announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $3,354,677 to the Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing) tocombat youth homelessness throughout the State of Maine. Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence: The bill includes $50 million for new rapid rehousing projects that serve victims and survivors of domestic violence. Section 8 Vouchers: The bill includes $25 million for new family unification vouchers of which $20 million will be used to prevent youth exiting foster care from becomin… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-resolution-cosponsored-senator-collins-commemorating-75th-anniversary-battle Senate Passes Resolution Cosponsored by Senator Collins Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins' father, Don Collins Washington, D.C. In recognition of the Battle of the Bulgebeginning 75 years ago today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Senator Susan Collins and a bipartisan group of her colleagues commemorating this anniversary. This resolutionhonorsthe valiant efforts of theAlliedForces inDecember 1944, as well as those who made the ultimatesacrifice in thislast major German offensive in Western Europeduring World War II.There were 89,000 American casualties in this 38-day battle, and 19,000 American soldiers lost their lives. The Allied victory in this battle helped make possible the final defeat and surrender of Germany in May 1945. Seventy-five years ago today, when the Allies were on the cusp of victory in Europe in World War II, Nazi troops launched a major counteroffensive in the Ardennes Forest that, if successful, could have altered the outcome of the war. Exhibiting tremendous bravery, approximately 100,000 Americans initially slowed the advance of an enemy force that greatly outnumbered their own, said Senator Collins. America's triumph came at a high price, with more than 89,000 casualties by the end. One of those soldiers was my father, who was wounded twice and earned two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. On this 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, let us honor the sacrifices made by the thousands of Americans who perished in battle, those who survived but have since passed on, and those living today. The resolution was also supported by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Joe Manchin (D-WV),Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Shelley Moore Capito (D-WV), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Hoeven (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jim Risch (R-ID), Todd Young (R-IN), John Boozman (R-AR), Marsha Blackbur… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-successfully-negotiates-300-million-new-mma-training-ship-final Senator Collins Successfully Negotiates $300 Million for New MMA Training Ship in Final Appropriations Agreement 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Click HERE for additional photos of the future ship for MMA Washington, D.C. Following months of negotiation and advocacy from U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, the final Appropriations agreement unveiled today includes $300 million for the construction and acquisition of a new training vessel for Maine Maritime Academy (MMA). Senator Collins wasthe Chairman of the negotiating Committee that brokered the agreement between the House and the Senate for the Transportation and Housing appropriations bill. The agreement must now receive a vote in both the House and the Senate. Once passed by both chambers, the bill will proceed to the President's desk to be signed into law. This ship is a critical training asset for Maine Maritime Academy, which is why I fought to include this funding throughout the Appropriations process, said Senator Collins. Maine Maritime Academy provides an exceptional education that fully prepares students to excel in the Navy, Coast Guard, and the maritime industry. This new ship will help provide rigorous instruction and crucial maritime training for MMA students for decades to come. This appropriation demonstrates that Congress believes in the value of our State Maritime Academies and our role in support of economic and national security. I am especially pleased with the level of support we have received from Senator Susan Collins who, as Chair of the Senate's Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, has had the laboring oar in approving funding for this huge accomplishment, said Dr. William J. Brennan, President of Maine Maritime Academy. Senator Collins strongly opposed the Administration's proposal earlier this year that requested $205 million to construct a smaller training vessel for MMA. It would have been inferior to a ship funded in fiscal year (FY) 2019 for Massachusetts Maritime Academy despite the fact that Maine Maritime Academy has nearly the same number of Coast Guard-licensed graduates and the same need for at-s… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-support-resolution-recognizing-critical-role-of-2020-census Collins, King Support Resolution Recognizing Critical Role of 2020 Census 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined their colleagues on a bipartisan resolutionto emphasize the importance of a fair and accurate 2020 Census. The resolution encourages individuals, families, and households across the United States to take part in the Census so that all communities can be counted. The Census is a central part of America's democracy that dates back to our nation's founding, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. Census data provides critical information to ensure accurate representation in Congress, and is a major factor that determines federal funding for much-needed local investments into roads, schools, and more. We urge Maine people to take all necessary steps to ensure they are properly counted when this process begins in 2020. The 2020 Census is a constitutionally-mandated undertaking. The data collected is used to properly allocate seats for the U.S. House of Representatives and state legislatures. It also directs more than $800 billion annually in federal funding to state and local communities. The resolution recognizes the importance and significance of the 2020 Census and encourages all people to participate. It concludes that it is the civic duty of every person to ensure that the 2020 Census is as accurate as possible by counting everyone once, only once and in the right place. For a PDF copy of the resolution, click here. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-nominates-12-mainers-service-academies Golden Nominates 12 Mainers for Service Academies 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Jared Golden G000592 golden.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) has announced his office's nominees to the United States Service Academiesthe U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress. This group represents some of Maine's most talented, skilled and accomplished students. They have all demonstrated great leadership, high academic standards, and most importantly, a desire to serve, said Golden. These nominees should be proud of all they've accomplished. I would be honored to have these talented candidates represent the Second District, and it's my privilege to nominate them. Nominees were interviewed by a panel of five about their academic record, test scores, leadership ability, involvement in extracurricular activities and commitment to serving their country. The full list of nominations is below. United States Naval Academy Annapolis Kristina Cornelio, Auburn, The Taft School Rowan Andrews, Brewer, Bangor High School Alyssa Day, Kenduskeag, Central High School James Belleau II, Lewiston, Kent Hills School Logan Tribou, Hampden, Hampden Academy Joshua Watson, Glenburn, Bangor High School United States Military Academy West Point Helen Shearer, Hampden, Home-Schooled Alexander Look, Jonesboro, Machias Memorial High School United States Air Force Academy Colorado Springs Halle Pelletier, Greenville, Greenville High School Bailey Mallory, Winterport, Hampden Academy George Grindle, Orono, Orono High School Logan Tribou, Hampden, Hampden Academy 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3196 Representatives Massie & Pingree Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Allow Interstate Traffic of Raw Milk 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced the Interstate Milk Freedom Act (H.R. 5410) today. This bill prohibits federal interference with the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products that are packaged for direct human consumption. It's legal to drink raw milk in 50 states. It is legal to sell raw milk in 28 states. Congress has never passed a ban on raw milk. Yet, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did so in capitulation toa lawsuit. Federal agencies, such as the FDA, that are part of the executive branch do not and should not have the power to shut down trade between peaceful farmers and willing consumers. It is Congress's job to legislate, said Rep. Massie. Our Interstate Milk Freedom Act would make it easier for families to buy milk of their choice by reversing the criminalization of specific dairy farmers. So many people across the country want to make sure their food is fresh and localincluding fruits, vegetables, and even their milk, said Rep. Pingree. Raw milk is currently the only food banned for interstate commercean onerous regulation that hurts small farmers for selling milk straight from their cows to the consumer. American families can best decide what milk will best serve their sons and daughters, said Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL). The FDA has no Congressional directive or safety regulation that justifies interfering in a decision between a consumer and dairy farmer.This is an issue best left up to states and consumers. Raw milk is a niche product highly valued by educated consumers who understand any risks associated with its consumption. This industry is vital economically for many small family farms in my district, who survive and thrive by selling directly to the consumer. Farmers throughout Pennsylvania's 11th District and the nation work tirelessly to ensure safe, nutritious dairy products are available to everyone, Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) said. Small family farms have been consuming and distributing raw milk safely for hundreds of years. … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-more-600000-13-maine-businesses-make-energy-efficiency-improvements Collins, King Announce More Than $600,000 for 13 Maine Businesses to Make Energy Efficiency Improvements, Install Renewable Energy Systems 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a total of $606,696 to help 13 businesses throughout Maine lower their energy costs through solar panel installations. This funding is awarded through USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Renewable energy installations not only have an important role in reducing harmful emissions, but can also save businesses money by substantially lowering their heating and electricity costs, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We welcome this important funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will allow 13 Maine businesses to install solar panel systems, helping them save thousands of dollars per year in energy costs. The funding is allocated as follows: Balfour Farm, LLC, in Pittsfield has been awarded $11,362 to purchase and install a 9.6 kW solar PV array. This project will replace 7,538 kWh (4.93) and save $10,347 per year. Brooks, Inc., in Thomaston has been awarded $50,000 to purchase and install a 115.9 kW solar electric roof-mounted system. This project will replace 123,877 kWh (86%) and save $16,104 per year. Brown Enterprises, LLC, in Monmouth has been awarded $27,500 to purchase and install a 56.88 kW solar electric roof-mounted system. This project will save $8,706 per year and generate 66,968 kWh annually, replacing all of the business' energy needs. Cranberry Isles Fishermen's Co-op in Islesford has been awarded $31,047 to purchase and install a 45.36kW solar electric roof-mounted system. This project will save $8,020 per year and generate 51,088 kWh annually, replacing all of the business' energy needs. Edwin Pelletier and Sons, Inc., in Frenchville has been awarded $37,710 to purchase and install a 61.6 kW solar PV ground-mounted system. This project will replace 74,237 kWh (95%) and save $10,393 per year. Leavitt Farms, LLC, in Limestone has been awarded $89,615 to purchase and install a 153 kW solar PV ground-mounted system. This… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-reed-introduce-legislation-help-make-higher-education-more-affordable-accessible Collins, Reed Introduce Legislation to Help Make Higher Education More Affordable & Accessible 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. Seeking to make higher education more affordable and accessible for students and to help make postsecondary education achievable for more Americans,U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced the Partnerships for Affordability and Student Success (PASS) Act.Thisbipartisan billwouldamend the Higher Education Act of 1965 toreestablish a federal-state partnership for increasingneed-based aid,providegrants to institutions to improve student outcomes and reduce college costs, andbuildpublic accountability for institutions of higher learning. Education plays a vital role in opening the doors of opportunity to all Americans, but the rising cost of a college education threatens to close those doors to many families across the country,said Senator Collins. This bipartisan bill would help alleviate such financial strains by creating a federal-state partnership program to improve state educational attainment, college access, affordability, and completion. It would also increase need-based financial aid. College is expensive. Today, too many hard-working young people and their families are falling behind as they try to pay for their degrees that were supposed to help them get ahead. The PASS Act will help make a college degree more affordable and accessible by reinvigorating thefederal-state partnership for higher education with an emphasis on need-based grant aid,said Senator Reed. During the sixties and seventies,a combination of low in-state tuition and federal and state need-based grants meant students did not have to mortgage their future to earn a college degree. That is not true today. Over 43 million Americans now owe more than $1.5 trillion in student loans.Today's students should have the same opportunity as previous generations. According to the latestState Higher Education Finance reportpublished by the State Higher Education Executive Officers, public colleges and universities have become more reliant on tuition dollars for their operations. Today, in 27 states, tuitio… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-shaheen-and-isakson-introduce-legislation-make-combatting-gender-based-violence-top Collins, Shaheen, and Isakson Introduce Legislation to Make Combatting Gender-Based Violence a Top U.S. Diplomatic Priority 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) introduced theInternational Violence Against Women Act(IVAWA), bipartisan legislation to ensure combatting gender-based violence around the world remains a top diplomatic and development priority for the United States. In addition to being a pressing human rights issue, violence against women and girls contributes to inequality and political instability, making it a security issue as well as a moral issue for us all. Our bipartisan bill would ensure that the U.S. continues to take a leadership role in combatting such violence around the world, said Senator Collins.I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues to end gender-based violence and to provide the assistance and resources necessary to achieve this goal. "One in three women and girls around the world will report experiencing gender-based violence in their lifetimes. By denying women and girls the chance to rise to their full potential, gender-based violence stunts economic, political and social progress in our communities, said Senator Shaheen. The International Violence Against Women Act will ensure combatting gender-based violence around the world remains a top diplomatic and development priority for the United States. This not only means stopping sexual abuse and trafficking, domestic violence, early and forced marriages and other forms of gender-based violence, but also changing societal views and norms in places around the world where women and girls are not agents of their own future. The United States must continue to be a leader in the fight to end gender-based violence around the world. The consequences of violence against girls and women at home and abroad are far-reaching, and the International Violence Against Women Act will help us better coordinate these important efforts, said Senator Isakson. Ensuring that women and girls around the world have the opportunity to reach their full potential, free from the threat of violence, mu… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/committee-advances-collins-and-hassan%E2%80%99s-efforts-support-grandfamilies-and-relative Committee Advances Collins and Hassans Efforts to Support Grandfamilies and Relative Caregivers, Prevent Child Abuse 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. The Health Committee voted to advance the reauthorization of the bipartisanChild Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA),which includes measures that U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) fought to include to ensure that family members caring for children are eligible for necessary support services. CAPTA is the only federal program dedicated exclusively to the prevention, assessment, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect. A growing consequence of the opioid crisis is an increasing number of grandparents raising their grandchildren because the children's parents overdosed or are absent due to substance use disorders. Earlier this year, Senators Collins and Hassan introduced the bipartisanHelp Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act, legislation that provides greater support services to meet the unique needs of children who have experienced trauma, including exposure to substance misuse. Throughout the United States, the opioid epidemic continues to devastate families, and grandparents increasingly are being called on to become the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. Although this caretaker role can be a source of tremendous comfort and stability for families, it also presents several challenges, said Senator Collins. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act will help ensure that grandparents have access to important resources they need to help their grandchildren succeed. Grandparents and other relatives who areprimary caregivers for children impacted by the opioid crisis are taking on an enormous and crucial responsibility, and they need additional support,Senator Hassansaid. I am pleased that the reauthorization of theChild Abuse Prevention and Treatment Actrightfullymakes sure that grandfamilies and other caregivers are eligible for child services under this bill, which helps ensure that both caregivers and children have what they need to thrive. As the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, Senator Collins authored key legislation tha… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-sinema-introduce-bill-help-asylum-seekers-obtain-jobs-more-quickly Senators Collins, Sinema Introduce Bill to Help Asylum Seekers Obtain Jobs More Quickly 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C.In a bipartisan effort to allow asylum seekers find employment more quickly and become self-sufficient, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced legislation today to shorten the waiting period before asylum seekers are allowed to file for work authorizations. The change proposed by our bill will lessen the burden on the budgets of communities hosting asylum seekers while allowing these individuals and their families to support themselves as they want to do, bringing needed skills to the cities and towns in which they settle, said Senator Collins. I encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to permit these individuals to work and contribute to the local economy while their asylum claims are being adjudicated. Our commonsense proposal allows individuals to stand on their own two feet and ensures women, children, and families fleeing violence and seeking asylum are treated fairly and humanely, said Senator Sinema. The Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2019 would allow asylum seekers to file for work authorizations 30 days after applying for asylum. Since asylum seekers cannot currently work to provide for themselves or their families for six months according to existing law, cities and towns where asylum seekers live are under pressure to support them, often by using local general assistance from taxpayers and volunteer contributions. Click HERE to read the text of the bill. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/after-advocating-for-paid-parental-leave-king-applauds-inclusion-of-new-policy-for-all-federal-employees-in-fy2020-ndaa After Advocating for Paid Parental Leave, King Applauds Inclusion of New Policy for All Federal Employees in FY2020 NDAA 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy BRUNSWICK, ME Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded the inclusion of paid parental leave for federal workers in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation will allow new parents to take up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after the birth, adoption or fostering of a child, effective October 1st, 2020. Earlier this year, Senator King joined 21 of his Senate colleagues in urging the inclusion of paid leave in the conference report of the NDAA. Paid parental leave strengthens our economy by helping keep folks in the workforce and promotes strong families by giving parents the opportunity to stay with their child without sacrificing financially, said Senator King. The policy just makes sense but for some reason, America is the only industrialized nation that doesn't guarantee paid leave to new parents. That's got to change. The inclusion of this provision to support federal workers is a major step in the right direction on the path creating a new standard that supports both America's workers and economy. Senator King has been outspoken in his support for the Family and Medical Leave Act, and has worked to build on its legacy to support paid family and medical leave legislation. He is a cosponsor of theFamily and Medical Insurance Leave Act(FAMILY) Act,legislation that would create a social insurance program to provide up to 12 weeks of gender-neutral paid family and medical leave for all private-sector members of the American workforce who have sufficient work history.Senator King is also an original sponsor of theStrong Families Act,bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would create a five-year, 25 percent tax credit for employers who voluntarily offer up to 12 weeks of paid family leave to employees.A version of the Strong Families Act with a two-year window wasenacted into lawin December 2017 as part of the tax bill. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-600000-for-13-maine-businesses-to-make-energy-efficiency-improvements-install-renewable-energy-systems Collins, King Announce More Than $600,000 for 13 Maine Businesses to Make Energy Efficiency Improvements, Install Renewable Energy Systems 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a total of $606,696 to help 13 businesses throughout Maine lower their energy costs through solar panel installations. This funding is awarded through USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Renewable energy installations not only have an important role in reducing harmful emissions, but can also save businesses money by substantially lowering their heating and electricity costs, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We welcome this important funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will allow 13 Maine businesses to install solar panel systems, helping them save thousands of dollars per year in energy costs. The funding is allocated as follows: Balfour Farm, LLC, in Pittsfield has been awarded $11,362 to purchase and install a 9.6 kW solar PV array. This project will replace 7,538 kWh (4.93) and save $10,347 per year.Brooks, Inc., in Thomaston has been awarded $50,000 to purchase and install a 115.9 kW solar electric roof-mounted system. This project will replace 123,877 kWh (86%) and save $16,104 per year.Brown Enterprises, LLC, in Monmouth has been awarded $27,500 to purchase and install a 56.88 kW solar electric roof-mounted system. This project will save $8,706 per year and generate 66,968 kWh annually, replacing all of the business' energy needs.Cranberry Isles Fishermen's Co-op in Islesford has been awarded $31,047 to purchase and install a 45.36kW solar electric roof-mounted system. This project will save $8,020 per year and generate 51,088 kWh annually, replacing all of the business' energy needs.Edwin Pelletier and Sons, Inc., in Frenchville has been awarded $37,710 to purchase and install a 61.6 kW solar PV ground-mounted system. This project will replace 74,237 kWh (95%) and save $10,393 per year.Leavitt Farms, LLC, in Limestone has been awarded $89,615 to purchase and install a 153 kW solar PV ground-mounted system. This project will save … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-opens-new-constituent-service-office-on-main-street-in-biddeford King Opens New Constituent Service Office on Main Street in Biddeford 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy BIDDEFORD, ME Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined members of his staff, local officials, and Maine people for the ribbon cutting of his new Biddeford office, located at227 Main Street. The new office, which is centrally located and available via public transit, will improve Senator King's efforts to be accessible to his constituents. When it came time to look for a new office in Southern Maine, the old adage stuck in my mind: location, location, location,'said Senator King.This office is located on the heart of Biddeford's Main Street, meaning we're more visible and more accessible to Maine people. Whether you're looking to share your opinion on the latest Washington happenings or need help navigating the federal bureaucracy, just know that we're open for business in Biddeford! Constituent services available at the Biddeford location include navigating issues with federal agencies, listening to concerns regarding government policies and programs, and providing updates on Senator King's positions and work in the U.S. Senate.In addition to the Biddeford location, Senator King also has offices in Augusta, Bangor, and Presque Isle, and is evaluating options to add at least one more office in the near future. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-backed-bill-lower-prescription-drug-costs-seniors-passes-house Golden-Backed Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Seniors Passes House 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Jared Golden G000592 golden.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON The House passed legislation today cosponsored by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to address rising prescription drug costs. H.R. 3, theLower Drug Costs Now Act, would limit out-of-pocket prescription drug costs paid by seniors, fund the expansion of Medicare coverage to include dental, vision, and hearing, and lower prescription drug prices for thousands of Mainers. Pharmaceutical corporations have taken home record profits while Mainers, especially seniors, have struggled to pay higher and higher prices for their medications,said Golden.TheLower Drug Costs Now Acttakes long-overdue action to cap out-of-pocket costs for seniors, negotiate down the prices of many expensive medications, and get skyrocketing prescription costs under control. The Senate is working on their own version of this legislation, which means there is an opportunity to come together and make real, bipartisan progress on this issue for the American people. In October, Golden joined AARP and hundreds of its members for a town hall on H.R. 3 and other efforts to lower prescription drug prices. He also pennedan op-eddefending the legislation and calling out spending against the bill by dark money groups tied to Big Pharma. According to Ways & Means Committee analysis, H.R. 3 could lower medication costs for Mainers with: Arthritis by $30,000 a year; Diabetes by $15,000 a year; Asthma by $1,100 a year; Breast cancer by $45,000 a year; Leukemia by $66,300 a year; Prostate cancer by $72,100 a year. Find aMaine-specific fact sheet about H.R. 3 here. In addition to lowering prescription drug costs, H.R. 3 uses budgetary savings from those provisions to fund the expansion of Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing benefits, expand the healthcare workforce, invest in biomedical research and drug development, combat the opioid epidemic, and increase funding for Community Health Centers. The legislation also includes provisions from two bills that Golden has cosponsored: theRemoving Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3191 On 4th Anniversary of Paris Accord Signing, Pingree Decries 220 days of Senate Inaction on H.R. 9 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement on the fourth anniversary of President Obama signing the international Paris Agreement on Climate Change on December 12, 2015: More than 220 days ago, the House approved H.R. 9 to recommit the United States to the Paris Climate Agreement and require the Trump administration to develop a serious plan for how our country will address climate change. It's outrageous that this legislation is one of 400 bills stalled in the U.S. Senate. Congress must look beyond petty politics and face the reality of the climate emergency we're in. Maine is already grappling with the widespread effects of climate change. Sea levels are rising. Weather patterns are unpredictable. Our ocean is acidifying. The Gulf of Maine is warming 99% faster than anywhere else on the planet. The health and well-being of our state is on the line. Four years after the U.S. joined the most visionary global climate changeagreementto date, President Trump and Senator McConnell's cowardice is jeopardizing our children's futures. The Senate must take up H.R. 9 immediately and move to protect our planet. TheParis Agreement, signed by President Obama, set to strengthen the global response to climate change by keeping anincrease in global temperatures below 1.5Cabove pre-industrial levels. Thisagreement requires all signatories to report their emissions levels regularly so the UN can assess the collective progress to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. President Trump formally began the process of withdrawing from the agreement in November 2019, despite the fact that more than 1,000 businesses and nearly 200 nations are still in support of the commitment. These businesses included Adobe, BP, General Mills, Apple, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Google, Intel, Walmart, Facebook, Unilever, National Grid, Morgan Stanley, and Microsoft. Without bold, transformative action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures willcontinue torise, exposing an estimated 350 million people to … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3193 With Vote for H.R. 3, Rep. Pingree Reaffirms Decades-Long Commitment to Reducing Rx Drug Costs 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today voted forH.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. The bill allowsMedicareto negotiate prescription drug prices,limitsout-of-pocket spendingon prescription drugsfor seniors, and reinvests savingsby establishing significantdental, vision, and hearingbenefitswithin Medicare. I don't know a single person in Maine who hasn't felt the burden ofoutrageouslyhigh prescription drug prices. No one should have to skip a dosage of life-saving medication while pharmaceutical companiesreapenormous profits,said Pingree.Big Pharma has been left unchecked for far too long, and it's well past time we deliver urgent relief to patients. This bill is a fundamental step in that direction and I'm proud to support it especially since it invests hundreds of billions in savings into making Medicare more comprehensive and affordable.Since my earliest days in the Maine State House and into this Congress, I've been fighting to make prescription drugs more affordable, and I'm going to keep fighting until every last Mainer can afford the medications they need. Since 1960, the United States has experienced the most rapid and significant drug cost increases in the world. Adjusting for inflation, annual American spending on prescription drugs per personhas surgedfrom $90 in 1960 to $1,025 in 2017. Prices for lifesaving drugs that have already been on the market for decades have continued to skyrocket. Insulin is just one shocking example, withprices increasing by 700%over the last 20 years. Prescription drug companies are charging Americans prices that are three, four, or even ten times higher than what they charge for the same drugs in other countries. H.R. 3 will give Medicare the power to negotiate directly with drug companies; make the negotiated lower prices available to all Americans, on private insurance or Medicare; stop drug companies from charging Americans more than other countries and limit the maximum price for negotiated drugs; create a $2,000 out of pocket limit on pr… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/bipartisan-bill-expand-wind-energy-research-and-development-introduced-senators-collins-0 Bipartisan Bill to Expand Wind Energy Research and Development Introduced by Senators Collins, Smith Advances 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. Today, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted to advance legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tina Smith (D-MN) to reauthorize and expand the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Wind Energy and support competitive grants to improve the efficiency, reliability, and capacity of wind energy generation. The Wind Energy Research and Development Act now heads to the floor for consideration by the full Senate. Within 50 miles of the U.S. coast, there is enough offshore wind capacity to power our country four times over. Offshore wind projects, such as Aqua Ventus at the University of Maine, have the potential to support more than 2,000 good-paying jobs in our state, said Senator Collins. Our bipartisan bill would encourage and accelerate the excellent wind energy research being done on new technologies that will enable businesses to continue to develop this clean source of power, including off the coast of Maine. Today's committee action shows that both sides of the aisle recognize the importance of investing in wind energy, said Senator Smith. As a national leader in wind energy, Minnesota knows that it offers large economic and environmental benefits. We're home to the two largest wind construction companies in the country, and nearly 20 percent of our state's electricity last year was generated from wind turbines. Senator Collins' and my bipartisan bill makes sense because wind energy is a rural economic engine, it's good for the environment and it's the cheapest way to add new electricity to the electrical grid. The wind energy sector supports more than 114,000 American jobs and provides more than $1 billion in revenue each year for states and local communities. Federal support for wind research and development has already delivered significant results, and the Wind Energy Research and Development Act is a big part of a larger effort to accelerate innovative technologies, educate local communities, create more jobs, and enhance the economy in rural are… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-56-million-investment-caribou-utilities-district Collins, King Announce $5.6 Million Investment in Caribou Utilities District 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 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 Caribou Utilities District received a grant of $1,400,000 and a loan of $4,200,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development to upgrade Caribou's wastewater treatment facility and collection system. The project will help prevent overflows of untreated or partially treated wastewater during wet weather. Maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure is vital to ensuring the economic and environmental health of communities,saidSenators Collins and King in a joint statement. We welcome this significant funding for Caribou to improve its wastewater treatment system, which will help to preserve water quality and public health, increase operation efficiencies at the treatment facility, and protect the surrounding environment. The improvements at Caribou's wastewater treatment facility will include removing sludge, removing and replacing old aeration piping and equipment, replacing lagoon liner, improving hydraulic connectivity between lagoons and the chlorine contact tank, increasing the capacity of lagoons, and replacing blowers and controls. The Water and Waste Disposal grant program aims to help rural communities establish best practices that can save tax dollars, improve the environment, and help manufacturers and businesses to establish or expand operations. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/legislation-authored-senators-collins-casey-increase-number-geriatric-doctors-nurses-and Legislation Authored by Senators Collins, Casey to Increase Number of Geriatric Doctors, Nurses, and Other Health Professionals Advances 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 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 today that the Senate Health Committee has voted to advance the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act, legislation they introduced earlier this year to increase the number of geriatric health professionals to support our aging population. Their bill now heads to the floor for consideration by the full Senate. This bipartisan bill would reauthorize the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) for the next five years and also reinstate the Geriatrics Academic Career Awards program (GACA). For Maine, with an aging population of more than a quarter million Mainers over the age of 65, and only 43 geriatricians, there is an acute need to quickly train more geriatric health professionals to meet the growing demand, said Senator Collins. Our bipartisan bill would ensure geriatric education for our current workforce, while optimizing resources to bolster academic careers in geriatrics, helping to attract the best and the brightest into the field. Together, GWEP and GACA would develop a high-quality geriatric workforce ready to provide care for Americans as we grow older. Currently, there are fewer than 7,300 physicians that are board-certified geriatricians. The United States needs to train more than 2,000 geriatricians per year over the next 11 years to reach the 30,000 geriatricians that will be needed by 2030. The number of health professionals and direct service workers trained to care for older adults must increase significantly in order to meet the needs of the growing population of Americans age 65 and older. GWEP is the only federally funded program that exists to educate and train health care professionals in geriatrics. Today, there are 48 GWEP programs in 35 states, including a new GWEP program at the University of New England (UNE), which Senators Collins and Angus King (I-ME) worked to secure earlier this year. GWEP programs help integrate geriatrics int… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/legislation-authored-senators-collins-shaheen-increase-access-national-parks-federal-lands Legislation Authored by Senators Collins, Shaheen to Increase Access to National Parks & Federal Lands for Disabled Veterans Advances 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Newsroom Legislation Authored by Senators Collins, Shaheen to Increase Access to National Parks & Federal Lands for Disabled Veterans Advances Posted Thu, 12/12/2019 - 12:19 Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced today that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has voted to advance the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act, legislation they introduced earlier this year that would make all veterans with service-connected disabilities eligible for a free, lifetime entry to United States national parks and other federal lands. Their bill now heads to the floor for consideration by the full Senate. The brave men and women who have served in our military and have been wounded defending our nation should have free access to our national parks and recreational areas the American land they fought to protect, said Senator Collins. From Acadia to Denali, and everywhere in between, this legislation would allow disabled veterans to more easily access our country's national treasures for outdoor recreation, which can help heal both the visible and invisible wounds of war. Under the 2004 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), veterans need to be classified as having a 100 percent permanent disability in order to be eligible for a free National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. The Wounded Veterans Recreation Act would amend this law so all veterans with service-related disabilities would be eligible for a free, lifetime pass to national parks and federal lands. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-56-million-investment-in-caribou-utilities-district Collins, King Announce $5.6 Million Investment in Caribou Utilities District 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Caribou Utilities District received a grant of $1,400,000 and a loan of $4,200,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development to upgrade Caribou's wastewater treatment facility and collection system. The project will help prevent overflows of untreated or partially treated wastewater during wet weather. Maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure is vital to ensuring the economic and environmental health of communities,saidSenators Collins and King in a joint statement. We welcome this significant funding for Caribou to improve its wastewater treatment system, which will help to preserve water quality and public health, increase operation efficiencies at the treatment facility, and protect the surrounding environment. The improvements at Caribou's wastewater treatment facility will include removing sludge, removing and replacing old aeration piping and equipment, replacing lagoon liner, improving hydraulic connectivity between lagoons and the chlorine contact tank, increasing the capacity of lagoons, and replacing blowers and controls. The Water and Waste Disposal grant program aims to help rural communities establish best practices that can save tax dollars, improve the environment, and help manufacturers and businesses to establish or expand operations. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-bipartisan-bill-preventing-future-government-shutdowns King Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill Preventing Future Government Shutdowns 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. As the federal government approaches another budget deadline on December 20th, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) is joining a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act. If signed into law, the commonsense bill would set up an automatic Continuing Resolution (CR) at the current spending level until an agreement is enacted, preventing a government-wide shutdown, continuing critical services and operations, and keeping federal employees at work while Congress negotiates. In addition to Senator King, the bill is supported by U.S. Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). When Washington's dysfunction repeatedly hurts hardworking Americans, it's clear that something needs to change, said Senator King. We've seen the impacts of shutdowns too many times: families left struggling, local small businesses seeing stark declines in their traffic, and Americans scrambling to receive the federal services they rely on. We can fix this let's come together on a bipartisan basis and make government shutdowns a thing of the past. The bipartisan proposal is a simple solution to address the threat of government shutdowns. If all appropriations bills are not passed by Congress and signed by the President by October 1, no official travel will be allowed for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) leadership or staff, Members of Congress, or their committee and personal staffs. The bill requires that during a period of lapsed appropriations, there will be: No taxpayer-funded travel allowances for official business (except one return flight to Washington, DC) for the following: White House OMB staff and leadership; Members of the House and Senate; Committee and personal staff of the House and SenateOfficial travel permitted within the national capital region (DC metro-area)No travel reimbursement (meals, per diem, or any type, including for state and district staff)No use of campaign funds by congress… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3185 Pingree Says Trumps Homelessness Council Pick is Unqualified, Will Undermine Mission to Provide Stable Housing 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), along with Representatives Clay,Moore, and Jayapal, wrote to President Donald Trump in opposition to his recent pick of Robert Marbut, a consultant who has urged cities to stop feeding homeless individuals, to lead the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). Full text of the letter can be foundhere. Mr. Marbut is, among our may concerns, unqualified, unprepared, and disdainful of the mission of the critically important federal agency which he has been appointed to lead,said Pingree in the letter.Marbut has encouraged cruel policies because he believes that municipalities efforts are making living on the streets too comfortable, which he derisively calls goodies'. He often says that he does not believe criminalization is the answer to homelessness, but he is a strong proponent of criminalizing much of the behavior and activity that makes being homeless and living on the street bearable. The letter continued,Homelessness has always been a bipartisan issuewith leaders on both sides of the aisle working to end this solvable crisis. We are very concerned that the Trump administration would pick someone whose professional work is based on practices that are such cruel, punitive, ineffectual and expensive to run the only federal agency tasked with ending homelessness. For 32 years, USICH has been the only federal agency to ensure a coordinated federal response to homelessness. Trump recently fired the Executive Director of USICH, Matthew Doherty, who was named by President Obama, and named Robert Marbut as his replacement. Marbut is to be confirmed by the council at their December 10 meeting. The Trump administration has also been critical of the popular and effective Housing First model , which is backed up by over a decade of research, practice, and bipartisan agreement and has been found to effectively reduce homelessness, reduce costs within the criminal justice system, and ensure safety and stability for homeless adults and children alike. The Administration re… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3189 Pingree Votes For BIW Funding, Paid Parental Leave, Climate Readiness Provisions in FY2020 NDAA Compromise 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) todayvoted forHouse passage oftheNational Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).The final NDAA conference report included provisions toauthorizeshipbuilding at Bath Iron Works (BIW), repeal the so-called widow's tax on military death benefits, and promote climate change resiliency at the nation's military installations. Text of the final FY2020 NDAA can be foundhere. This NDAA is a true compromise. Although this spending package isn't perfect, I'm grateful that it fully funds shipbuilding work at BIW, will help prepare our military to address the climate crisis, repeal the onerous tax burden on military families, and establish paid parental leave for federal workers,said Pingree.I believe provisions tomore strongly regulate PFAS and require cleanup ofthese chemicalsshould have remained in the conference report, but I will keep working to supportthese efforts through the House Appropriations Committee. The NDAA is the annual bill whichauthorizesexpenditures for the U.S. Department of Defense. The bill has several progressive achievements, including12 weeks of paid parental leave for two million federal employeesacross the countryand arepeal of the widow's tax,an unfair deduction of benefits which is placed on surviving spouses of service members when their spouse passes away during active duty. Pingree expressed her disappointment that critical provisions in the House-passed bill were lost in negotiations with the Senate. In particular, Senate Republicans refused to accept the House provisionstoregulate PFAS in drinking water and require cleanup of the chemicals under the Superfund law.In addition, the conference report failed to include important checks against endless and unauthorized wars, such as the repeal of the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force, a block against deportation for DACA and TPS servicemembers, and a repeal of the transgender military ban. The FY2020 NDAA includes several priorities for Mainers, including fullauthorizationfor DDG-51, DDG-1000,… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3190 Pingree Votes for Bipartisan Immigration Bill to Support Farmers, Farm Labor 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today voted to passH.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, of which she is a cosponsor. The bipartisan bill isimmigration reformlegislationdesigned to support farmbusinesseswho rely on H-2A visas to fill positions in a tight labor marketand allow long-time agricultural workers in the U.S. to earn legal status. Maine farms, which are overwhelmingly small and mid-sized, are suffering from a labor shortage. There simply are not enough workers available to fill open positions and it takes a toll on our farms. The local food movement, which is helping attract much-needed residents to our state, is being driven by small farms who simply cannot survive without adequate workforce,said Pingree. This bill is a great example on how we can come together and achieve meaningful reform that both supports American industry and protects workers. I hope the Senate takes this bill up quickly and that President Trump signs this bill, which would bring much-needed relief to farmers and the laborers who help put food on our tables. Farmers and ranchers across the United States are in desperate need of a high-quality, reliable workforce and are struggling under the weight of a growing labor crisis.In Maine, the unemployment rate is historically low at 2.8%, underscoring the challenge for Maine businesses to find workers.Fewer American workers are willing to perform farm labor, and thus U.S. farmers are increasingly dependent on foreign workers to meet labor demands. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act reforms the H-2A agricultural guestworker program and creates a merit-based visa program designed specifically for the agricultural economy, providing stability to one of the pillars of America's economic health. H.R. 5038 establishes a path to legal permanent residence for undocumented farmworkers through continued agricultural employment, provides more flexibility for employers while ensuring protections for workers, and mandates E-Verify for all agricultural employment. The Farm Work… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-212-million-health-centers-cumberland-and-piscataquis-counties Collins, King Announce $2.12 Million for Health Centers in Cumberland and Piscataquis Counties 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Newsroom Collins, King Announce $2.12 Million for Health Centers in Cumberland and Piscataquis Counties Posted Wed, 12/11/2019 - 14:33 Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $1,492,719 in funding to Greater Portland Health in Cumberland County and $635,688 for Sebasticook Family Doctors in Piscataquis County. Access to quality, affordable health care is crucial to the well-being of Maine communities, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This important funding will help Greater Portland Health and Sebasticook Family Doctors continue to provide cost-effective primary and preventive care that is critical to many Mainers in Cumberland and Piscataquis counties. This funding was awarded through the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Health Center Cluster Program at HHS, which 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. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-join-bipartisan-group-senators-letter-un-convention-support-global-efforts Collins, King Join Bipartisan Group of Senators on Letter to UN Convention in Support of Global Efforts to Combat Climate Change 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in support of its global efforts to thwart climate change. The 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 25) is underway in Madrid to convene a meeting on the historic Paris Climate Agreement. Failing to address the worsening crisis of climate change will wreak damages on all Americans for centuries into the future. Now more than ever, the American people are demanding action on climate change from our federal government and our international partners, wrote the Senators. In a moment where the commitment of the United States to address climate change seems threadbare, we, the undersigned, assure you that we are working diligently to respond to this global threat and we support your efforts in Madrid. In their letter, the Senators urged the UNFCCC and all international participants in the convention to explore all solutions and paths forward to combat the effects of climate change. In closing, the Senators reiterated there is bipartisan support in Congress to take action. The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tom Udall (D-NM), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). The letter can be read here. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-unanimously-passes-resolution-led-collins-stabenow-honoring-first-all-female Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution Led by Collins, Stabenow Honoring First All-Female Spacewalk 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. Last night, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution led by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and cosponsored by all 23 of their female colleagues congratulating astronauts Dr. Jessica U. Meir and Christina H. Koch for the historic accomplishment of completing the first all-female spacewalk. The bipartisan resolution also supports the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) efforts to fully integrate women into the astronaut corps and ensure that one of the next humans to walk on the moon will be a woman. On October 18, 2019, Dr. Meir and Ms. Koch conducted a seven hour and seven minute spacewalk to replace a power controllerthe first all-female spacewalk in history, and the 14th and 15th women, respectively, to conduct a spacewalk. Dr. Jessica Meir's and Christina Koch's completion of NASA's first all-female spacewalk marked an incredible moment in our nation's history and will be venerated for generations to come, said Senator Collins. This bipartisan resolution, supported by all 25 female Senators, recognizes Jessica and Christina for their extraordinary accomplishments. They continue to inspire students throughout the country to pursue their dreams. Jessica Meir and Christina Koch made history this year when they completed the first all-female spacewalk. This important milestone will leave a lasting impression on our space program and on young women across the country. Jessica and Christina have showed us what the future looks like and I look forward to following their careers and the careers of other women as they continue to make our nation proud,said Senator Stabenow. Dr. Meir is a native of Caribou, Maine. She has a degree in biology from Brown University, a master's in space studies from the International Space University, and a Ph.D. in marine biology from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Jessica is the first woman from Maine and only the third person from Maine ever to go on a space flight. Ms. Koch is a native of Grand Rapid… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-honored-council-scientific-society-presidents-2019-cssp-support-science Senator Collins Honored by Council of Scientific Society Presidents with 2019 CSSP Support of Science Award 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC The Council of Scientific Society Presidents (CSSP) announced U.S. Senator Susan Collins as recipient of the 2019 Support of Science Award. Presentation of the award was given on 10 December during the CSSP Winter Leadership Workshop in Washington, DC. Senator Collins was nominated for this award by Dr. Deborah Bronk, the CEO of Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. This award honors an individual who merits recognition for outstanding and dedicated support of U. S. science, free scientific communication, and support of basic research. Past recipients include President Barack Obama and science leaders in education, government, and industry. Senator Collins has been a constant and strong supporter of science. Beginning with her work in Maine, she continues to be a recognized advocate, beneficial to science on a broader basis. Her interest in science extends to health care. She is the founder and co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus and a founder and co-chair of the Alzheimer's Task Force in the Senate. Senator Collins has led the effort to more than triple federal funding for diabetes research. Last year, she secured the largest funding increase for Alzheimer's research in history, bringing the total to $2.34 billion. Additionally, Senator Collins' commitment has been evidenced in removing a provision to tax tuition waivers and stipends for graduate students as income in a proposed tax bill. For more than four decades, the Council of Scientific Society Presidents has been bringing the scientific community together, helping to foster sound public policy to address such complex issues as climate change, cybersecurity, and health care. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have worked to secure vital increases in funding for biomedical research and key science programs. Additionally, I have championed policies that support the next generation of researchers,said Senator Collins. Investments in science are advancing knowledge, improving lives, and creating jobs of the futur… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-212-million-for-health-centers-in-cumberland-and-piscataquis-counties Collins, King Announce $2.12 Million for Health Centers in Cumberland and Piscataquis Counties 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $1,492,719 in funding to Greater Portland Health in Cumberland County and $635,688 for Sebasticook Family Doctors in Piscataquis County. Access to quality, affordable health care is crucial to the well-being of Maine communities, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This important funding will help Greater Portland Health and Sebasticook Family Doctors continue to provide cost-effective primary and preventive care that is critical to many Mainers in Cumberland and Piscataquis counties. This funding was awarded through the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Health Center Cluster Program at HHS, which 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. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-join-bipartisan-group-of-senators-on-letter-to-un-convention-in-support-of-global-efforts-to-combat-climate-change Collins, King Join Bipartisan Group of Senators on Letter to UN Convention in Support of Global Efforts to Combat Climate Change 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in support of its global efforts to thwart climate change. The 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 25) is underway in Madrid to convene a meeting on the historic Paris Climate Agreement. Failing to address the worsening crisis of climate change will wreak damages on all Americans for centuries into the future. Now more than ever, the American people are demanding action on climate change from our federal government and our international partners, wrote the Senators. In a moment where the commitment of the United States to address climate change seems threadbare, we, the undersigned, assure you that we are working diligently to respond to this global threat and we support your efforts in Madrid. In their letter, the Senators urged the UNFCCC and all international participants in the convention to explore all solutions and paths forward to combat the effects of climate change. In closing, the Senators reiterated there is bipartisan support in Congress to take action. The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tom Udall (D-NM), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). The letter can be read here. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-celebrates-wins-for-maine-priorities-in-finalized-defense-authorization-bill King Celebrates Wins for Maine Priorities in Finalized Defense Authorization Bill 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the House-Senate conference committee's bicameral agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020 included key policy and project wins for Maine. Senator King served on the conference committee that reconciled the differences between the Senate's version, which passed by a vote of 86-8, and version advanced by the House of Representatives. The conference report now must be voted on and passed in both chambers of Congress. The conference committee has crafted a bill that makes our nation safer, updates policies and safeguards that needed reforms, provides much-needed benefits for our military personnel, and supports Maine jobs, said Senator King. This is a good piece of legislation, and I look forward to seeing it move through Congress and to the President's desks in short order. Senator King successfully advocated for the inclusion of many provisions that will improve national security and support Maine jobs, including: FUNDING SHIPBUILDING PRIORITIES. The legislation authorizes more than $5.1 billion for the procurement of 3 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in fiscal year 2020, which Bath Iron Works (BIW) can compete to build. It also authorizes $484 million to fund future year DDG-51 procurements. In addition, the legislation authorizes funds for the completion of the DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, all of which are being built at BIW.PRIORITIZING CYBERSECURITY STRATEGY. The legislation emphasizes the importance of building the capabilities of the United States to prevent and respond to cyberattacks by bad actors.Senator King has long been an active voice urging additional focus on cyber threats, and as co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, he is leading a bipartisan group to review the threats facing America in cyberspace and provide strategic guidance and policy recommendations on how to defend ourselves against cyberthreats.INCREASING RESE… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-legislation-protecting-energy-grid-from-cyberattacks-included-in-finalized-2020-defense-authorization-bill King Legislation Protecting Energy Grid from Cyberattacks Included in Finalized 2020 Defense Authorization Bill 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, today announced that the House-Senate conference committee's version of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators King and Jim Risch (R-Idaho). Both Senators are members of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR). The legislation will develop defenses for the U.S. energy grid through partnerships between the National Laboratories and industry. Specifically, the partnerships will utilize engineering concepts to remove vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to access the grid through holes in digital software systems. The energy grid powers our financial transactions, communications networks, healthcare services and most of our daily life so if this critical infrastructure is compromised by a hacker, these building blocks of American life are at risk, said Senator King. Protecting our energy grid is commonsense, bipartisan, and vital to national security, and I'm happy this year's NDAA will enshrine this needed provision into law. TheSecuring Energy Infrastructure Actaims to remove vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to access the energy grid through holes in digital software systems. Specifically, it will direct the Department of Energy to examine ways that replacing automated systems with low-tech redundancies, like manual procedures controlled by human operators, may be helpful in adverting cyberattacks. This approach seeks to thwart even the most sophisticated cyber-adversaries who, if they are intent on accessing the grid, would have to actually physically touch the equipment, thereby making cyber-attacks much more difficult. The Securing Energy Infrastructure Act was part of theDamon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, and 2020, which was included in the National Defense Authorizat… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-delivers-maine-priorities-final-defense-funding-bill Golden Delivers Maine Priorities in Final Defense Funding Bill 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Jared Golden G000592 golden.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) delivered Maine priorities in the bipartisan, bicameral legislation that authorizes programs and funding at the U.S. Department of Defense for FY2020. Golden's success is the product of nearly a year of work to ensure that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) supports America's national security and Maine's shipyard workers, National Guardsmen, manufacturers, and universities. Golden was named to the conference committee, composed of House and Senate leaders, responsible for reaching a compromise on the legislation. For the last ten months, I've worked with Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate to make sure the defense authorization bill keeps our country safe, looks out for our servicemembers and their families, and supports Maine jobs,said Golden.I'm proud that we've worked together to strike a bipartisan compromise that delivers on these priorities. This legislation will ensure our military is prepared to provide for our national security in a dangerous world and takes care of our servicemembers and their families Included in the final version of the NDAA is FY2020 authorization to build three DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, perform maintenance and upgrades for DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, and to begin building the FFG(X) Navy Frigate. Bath Iron Works (BIW) will build at least one of the DDG-51s, perform continued work on the DDG-1000s, and is one of four shipyards competing to build the FFG(X) frigate. The NDAA also includes aprovision authored by Goldenwhich directs the Navy to develop a plan to grow and train the workforce necessary to achieve their 30-year shipbuilding plan. The Congressman secured a provision requiring the Defense Department to ensure labels detailing prescription drug information be included with medications dispensed at DOD medical facilities. This provision will protect servicemembers and their families by ensuring DOD medical personnel have access to hard-copies of essential prescription drug informati… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3186 Pingree Announces $245,774 in USDA Rural Development Grants Coming to Maine 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Pingree Announces $245,774 in USDA Rural Development Grants Coming to Maine Washington, December 10, 2019 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Rural Development Program will grant five Maine organizations with a total of $245,774. The grants, from the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Loans and Grants, go towards transitioning rural small businesses to renewable energy sources, like solar panels on the roof of their establishment. As a member of the House Agriculture and Appropriations Committees, I've advocated for federal funding to support small businesses that want to lower their costs by transitioning to renewable, more efficient energy sources,said Pingree.I applaud these local Maine businesses for applying for these federal grants, which are a win-win for their small businesses and our environment. Congresswoman Pingree sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, which oversees discretionary funding for USDA programs like REAP. Full details of the grant awards are as follows: The Baker Company Inc., Sanford, ME ($18,146.00) This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 219.52 kW solar electric roof-mounted system. This project will replace 241,958 kWh (15%) and save $31,455 per year. Morningstar Marble and Granite Inc., Topsham, ME ($60,000.00) This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 161.28kW solar photovoltaic roof-mounted system. This project will replace 171,112kWh (92%) and save $22,245 per year. Sheepscot General, LLC, Whitefield, ME ($26,750.00) This Rur… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3187 Pingrees Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Americas Working Waterfronts Passes House 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine)'s bipartisan bill,H.R. 3596, the Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act, today passed the House of Representatives ona262-151 vote. More than 30,000 Mainers rely on marine-related industries for their livelihoods. Yet out of five thousand miles ofcoastline, just 20 miles of workable waterfront remains in the state,said Pingree.Coastal communities across the country are feeling the same squeeze. Further reducing our usable coastline will adversely impact everything from aquaculture and boatbuilding, to coastal tourism and commercial fishing. Watch Pingree's full floor speech on H.R.3595here. Pingree's bill seeks to preserve the character of coastal communities by protecting jobs, commercial activities, and public access to America'scoast.H.R. 3596would: establish aWorkingWaterfront Grant Program to provide matching, competitive grants to coastal states to help preserve and expand access to coastal waters for water-dependent businesses create a five-year pilot for a loan fund for waterfront preservation, modeled after state drinking water loans authorize $12 million each for both the loan and grant programs organize aWorkingWaterfront Task Force at the Department of Commerce to identify and prioritize critical needs forworking waterfronts, especially in the face of the climate crisis and increased trade threats. Pingree's bill passed as a part of H.R. 729, a package often bipartisan bills aimed at protecting vulnerable coastal and Great Lakes communities impacted by the climate crisis. Pingree haslong advocated for federal resources to help Maine communitiespreserve and expand shoreline access and infrastructure for water-dependent industries, such as fishing, boat building, and aquaculture.Her bill to study and combat ocean acidification,H.R. 1716, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act, unanimously passed the House of Representatives on June 5, 2019. SUPPORT FROM MAINE STAKEHOLDERS The Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act will hel… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-cantwell-mcsally-and-sinema-lead-bipartisan-push-legislation-help-americans-high Collins, Cantwell, McSally, and Sinema, Lead Bipartisan Push for Legislation to Help Americans with High Health Care Costs 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), the Chairman of the Aging Committee, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Martha McSally (R-AZ), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) sent a letter to Senate leadership urging them to extend the medical expense deduction in any end-of-year funding package. Without action, millions of Americans with high medical costs will see a tax increase when they next file their taxes. The 2017 and 2018 threshold, which allowed for the deduction of medical expenses exceeding 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI), will give way to a threshold of 10 percent of AGI if an extension is not enacted This issue reflects strong bipartisan and bicameral consensus. None of us wants to see an increase in the tax burden for those with high medical expenses. This extension is low-cost but has an incredibly high impact, the Senators wrote. About 3.6 million taxpayers, including 1.4 million who are ages 65 and over, will benefit from the medical expense deduction remaining at the 7.5 percent income threshold. Moreover, over two-thirds fall into the middle sixty percent of the income distribution. This deduction provides needed financial relief for Americans with high medical expenses, particularly seniors and individuals with disabilities or serious medical conditions, the Senators continued. As Congress works to complete action on a number of must-pass items before the end of the year, we urge you to extend the current medical expense deduction for future tax years. 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. The support for this deduction is widespread in the medical community, including organizations such as the AARP, American Heart Association, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, LeadingAge, Fight Colorectal Cancer, Medicare Rights Center, FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-jones-announce-military-widow%E2%80%99s-tax-repeal-included-final-defense-bill Collins, Jones Announce Military Widows Tax Repeal Included in Final Defense Bill 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Doug Jones (D-AL) announced the inclusion of their bipartisan Military Widow's Tax Elimination Act in the final annual defense bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This marks a significant step in the 18-year effort to pass legislation to repeal the law that penalizes our nation's military widows and widowers. The NDAA will now go to the House and Senate for final consideration, where it will receive an up-or-down vote with no further amendments allowed. This provision we secured in the NDAA is a major victory for surviving military and retiree spouses to whom we are deeply indebted. The Military Widow's Tax was an unfair offset that prevented as many as 67,000 surviving spousesincluding more than 260 from Mainefrom receiving the full benefits they deserve. Its repeal is a step toward fulfilling our obligation to military families who have sacrificed so much for our country. I am glad that Senator Jones and I, along with a bipartisan group of our colleagues, were able to correct this glaring inequity, said Senator Susan Collins. Words cannot begin to express the gravity of this news for the tens of thousands of Gold Star families who have been hurt by this policy for four decades, said Senator Jones, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. I am grateful to the leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees Senators Jim Inhofe and Jack Reed and Congressmen Adam Smith and Mac Thornberry who have heard our voices and are doing right by our military widows. A great deal of credit must also go to the widows themselves, so many of whom have been coming to Capitol Hill year after year to bring attention to this gross injustice on behalf of their fellow surviving spouses. Today, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am more hopeful than ever that we can finally end this injustice and show our military families how much their sacrifices truly mean to our country. The Military Widow's Tax Elimina… 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-14-2019-%E2%80%9Cwreaths-across Senate Unanimously Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 14, 2019, as Wreaths Across America Day 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 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 14, 2019, as Wreaths Across America Day. On December 14, 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. International Paper, which has a corrugated packaging facility in Auburn, is donating 7,500 boxes and helping to purchase wreaths and transport them to Arlington National Cemetery. Tens of thousands of volunteers are expected to participate in this proud tradition. Each year through Wreaths Across America, tens of thousands of Americans take time out of the busy holiday season to pause and pay tribute to those who served in defense of our nation. This Maine-led tradition of placing wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes has become an inspiring and enduring symbol of our nation's gratitude for veterans' valor and sacrifice, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We are grateful for all of the volunteers who Remember, Honor, Teach' through Wreaths Across America. Last year, approximately 1.8 million wreaths were laid at more than 1,700 locations in all 50 states. In addition, more than 9,300 wreaths were laid at Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Senators Collins and King took part in the official, bipartisan Senate delegation to this cemetery in June to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. This year, in addition to the wreaths that will be laid at Arlington and all 50 states, nearly 15,000 wreaths were laid at two American Veteran Cemeteries in Luxembourg and the Netherlands in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Senator Collins' fath… 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-3 Senators Collins and King Announce Maine Nominees to the United States Military Service Academies 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 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 Samuel Edborg Saco Thornton Academy George Grindle Orono Orono High School David Hamme Lebanon Noble High School Michael Luna Portland Cheverus High School Bailey Mallory Winterport Hampden Academy Nathan Mars Scarborough Scarborough High School Rory McPherson Kittery The Governor's Academy Halle Pelletier Greenville Greenville High School Sara Scrapchansky Brunswick Brunswick High School Michael Simmons Union Medomak Valley High School Logan Tribou Hampden Hampden Academy Kelly Yoon Falmouth Falmouth High School United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point Name Home Town High School David Hamme Lebanon Noble High School Aidan Kehoe Rockport Camden Hills Regional High School Madeline Marks Falmouth Falmouth High School Nathan Mars Scarborough Scarborough High School Benjamin Jacobs Damariscotta Carrabassett Valley Academy Unites States Military Academy West Point Name Home Town High School Grace Casey Brunswick Brunswick High School Ryan Connors Kennebunk Kennebunk High School David Hamme Lebanon Noble High School Alexander Look Jonesboro Machias Memorial High Schoo… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-unanimously-passes-collins-king-resolution-marking-december-14-2019-as-wreaths-across-america-day Senate Unanimously Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 14, 2019, as “Wreaths Across America Day” 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.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 14, 2019, as Wreaths Across America Day. On December 14, 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. International Paper, which has a corrugated packaging facility in Auburn, is donating 7,500 boxes and helping to purchase wreaths and transport them to Arlington National Cemetery. Tens of thousands of volunteers are expected to participate in this proud tradition. Each year through Wreaths Across America, tens of thousands of Americans take time out of the busy holiday season to pause and pay tribute to those who served in defense of our nation. This Maine-led tradition of placing wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes has become an inspiring and enduring symbol of our nation's gratitude for veterans' valor and sacrifice, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We are grateful for all of the volunteers who Remember, Honor, Teach' through Wreaths Across America. Last year, approximately 1.8 million wreaths were laid at more than 1,700 locations in all 50 states. In addition, more than 9,300 wreaths were laid at Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Senators Collins and King took part in the official, bipartisan Senate delegation to this cemetery in June to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. This year, in addition to the wreaths that will be laid at Arlington and all 50 states, nearly 15,000 wreaths were laid at two American Veteran Cemeteries in Luxembourg and the Netherlands in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Senator Collins' father w… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/amid-npr-investigation-collins-king-join-push-department-education-investigate-permanent Amid NPR Investigation, Collins, King Join Push for Department of Education to Investigate Permanent Disability Loan Forgiveness Program 2019-12-09 2019 2019-12 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) joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging the Department's Acting Inspector General, Sandra Bruce, to investigate the federal student loan discharge process forAmericans with total and permanent disabilities (TPD). Themembers' letter comes after an alarming report fromNational Public Radio (NPR), posted earlier this week, which found that hundreds of thousands of Americanswith qualifying disabilitieshave not received the student loan relief they are entitled to by law. In addition to Senators Collins and King, the letter was signed by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) along with U.S. Representatives Ron Kind (D-Wis.), Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Don Young (R-Alaska). We are alarmed by the findings in thisNPRinvestigation, the reported extremely low rate of loan discharges for eligible borrowers, and the contrast between theNPRreport and the information previously provided by ED,wrote the senators.We are also concerned by ED's lack of transparency with Congress and failure to provide timely, verifiable information. Most importantly, it appears that ED's process for TPD loan discharges is failing to provide student loan relief to hundreds of thousands of Americans, including veterans, who are entitled to this relief under the law. The full letter can be read below, or downloaded HERE. +++ The Honorable Sandra D. Bruce Acting Inspector General Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of Education 550 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20202 Dear Acting Inspector General Bruce: We write with serious concern about the Department of Education's (ED) process to discharge federal student loans for totally and permanently disabled Americans, including veterans. Under theHigher Education Act of 1965, individuals who are totally and permanently disabled (TPD) are eligible … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-reed-call-full-funding-heating-assistance-weatherization-programs-fy-2020 Collins, Reed Call for Full Funding for Heating Assistance, Weatherization Programs in FY 2020 Appropriations Bills 2019-12-09 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. Seeking to help vulnerable populations afford their heating and air conditioning during months of extreme temperatures, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) sent letters to the leadership of two Appropriations Subcommittees urging them to provide robust funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). In a letter to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee leadership, the Senators asked for their continued support of LIHEAP and their adoption of the highest possible funding level for the program in the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. 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, the Senators wrote. LIHEAP assistance is an indispensable lifeline, helping to ensure that recipients do not have to choose between paying their energy bills and affording other necessities like food and medicine. Access to affordable home energy is a matter of health and safety for many low-income households, children, and seniors. In a separate letter to Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee leadership, Senators Collins and Reed asked for their continued support of WAP, which helps low-income households make energy efficiency improvements, and the State Energy Program (SEP), which funds state initiatives to improve energy security, increase local energy efficiency, and boost economic growth. Energy savings are only a portion of the benefits from weatherization, the Senators wrote. Children in weatherized households miss less school, improving educational outcomes. Adults miss less work, increasing both their own incomes and their contributions to economic growth. Families also experience fewer asthma symptoms and emergency room visits, decreasing… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-stabenow-lead-resolution-cosponsored-all-25-women-senators-honoring-first-all Collins, Stabenow Lead Resolution Cosponsored by All 25 Women Senators Honoring First All-Female Spacewalk 2019-12-09 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) led all 23 of their female colleagues in introducing a resolution congratulating astronauts Dr. Jessica U. Meir and Christina H. Koch for the historic accomplishment of completing the first all-female spacewalk. The bipartisan resolution also supports the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) efforts to fully integrate women into the astronaut corps and ensure that one of the next humans to walk on the moon will be a woman. On October 18, 2019, Dr. Meir and Ms. Koch conducted a seven hour and seven minute spacewalk to replace a power controllerthe first all-female spacewalk in history, and the 14th and 15th women, respectively, to conduct a spacewalk. Dr. Jessica Meir's and Christina Koch's completion of NASA's first all-female spacewalk marked an incredible moment in our nation's history and will be venerated for generations to come, said Senator Collins. This bipartisan resolution, supported by all 25 female Senators, recognizes Jessica and Christina for their extraordinary accomplishments. They continue to inspire students throughout the country to pursue their dreams. Jessica Meir and Christina Koch made history this year when they completed the first all-female spacewalk. This important milestone will leave a lasting impression on our space program and on young women across the country. Jessica and Christina have showed us what the future looks like and I look forward to following their careers and the careers of other women as they continue to make our nation proud,said Senator Stabenow. Dr. Meir is a native of Caribou, Maine. She has a degree in biology from Brown University, a master's in space studies from the International Space University, and a Ph.D. in marine biology from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Jessica is the first woman from Maine and only the third person from Maine ever to go on a space flight. Ms. Koch is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has a degree in electrical engin… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/amid-npr-investigation-collins-king-join-push-for-department-of-education-to-investigate-permanent-disability-loan-forgiveness-program Amid NPR Investigation, Collins, King Join Push for Department of Education to Investigate Permanent Disability Loan Forgiveness Program 2019-12-09 2019 2019-12 Independent House ME Angus King K000383 www.king.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging the Department's Acting Inspector General, Sandra Bruce, to investigate the federal student loan discharge process forAmericans with total and permanent disabilities (TPD). Themembers' letter comes after an alarming report fromNational Public Radio (NPR), posted earlier this week, which found that hundreds of thousands of Americanswith qualifying disabilitieshave not received the student loan relief they are entitled to by law. In addition to Senators Collins and King, the letter was signed by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) along with U.S. Representatives Ron Kind (D-Wis.), Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Don Young (R-Alaska). We are alarmed by the findings in thisNPRinvestigation, the reported extremely low rate of loan discharges for eligible borrowers, and the contrast between theNPRreport and the information previously provided by ED,wrote the senators.We are also concerned by ED's lack of transparency with Congress and failure to provide timely, verifiable information. Most importantly, it appears that ED's process for TPD loan discharges is failing to provide student loan relief to hundreds of thousands of Americans, including veterans, who are entitled to this relief under the law. The full letter can be read below, or downloaded HERE. +++ The Honorable Sandra D. Bruce Acting Inspector General Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of Education 550 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20202 Dear Acting Inspector General Bruce: We write with serious concern about the Department of Education's (ED) process to discharge federal student loans for totally and permanently disabled Americans, including veterans. Under theHigher Education Act of 1965, individuals who are totally and permanently disabled (TPD) are eligible to hav… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3184 Pingree Announces Award of Almost $950k from USDA to Strengthen Local and Regional Markets for Maine Agricultural Products 2019-12-06 2019 2019-12 Democrat House ME Chellie Pingree P000597 pingree.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is awarding $948,019.04 to three Maine institutions to increase consumption of and access to local and regional agricultural products. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, the Sustainability Lab in Yarmouth, and Maine Federation of Farmers Markets in Belfast will receive funding from the Local Food Promotion Program and the Farmers Market Promotion Program, respectively. The local and regional food industry has experienced massive growth in recent yearsboth in Maine and across our countryand shows no sign of slowing down. As farmers cope with the uncertainty of trade wars, they know they can rely on their local communities to support their business,said Pingree.I fought hard for this incredibly important funding to be included in the 2018 Farm Bill, and I'm thrilled to see the results come to local Maine farmers. With these USDA resources, Mainers will be able to access to locally grown, healthy foods and support their neighborhood farms. The funding is made possible through USDA's Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, a part of the Local Agriculture Marketing Program (LAMP) authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill. Pingree was instrumental in securing LAMP in the 2018 Farm Bill,leading a bipartisan letter of 43 House membersurging leadership of the Farm Bill conference committee to include LAMP in the legislation's final text. LAMP was a provision of H.R. 3941, theLocal FARMS Act, Pingree's bipartisan bill to boost access to local and regional food markets and support local economies. "This funding from the USDA will give us the opportunity to implement a suite of region-wide quality handling improvements that will ultimately increase the value of seafood harvested in New England. These improvements are critical for our region's seafood industry to grow and to compete with high quality imported seafood, which is currently the largest barrier to market access … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-bipartisan-group-fight-protect-veterans-predatory-pension-poachers Collins, Bipartisan Group Fight to Protect Veterans from Predatory Pension Poachers 2019-12-06 2019 2019-12 Republican House ME Susan Collins C001035 www.collins.senate.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jon Tester (D-MT), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced legislation this week that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to systematically track victims, scammers, and trends to proactively protect veterans and survivors across the country from predatory pension poachers. Our nation's aging veterans represent a segment of vulnerable individuals increasingly targeted by bad actors preying on the VA pension benefits they've earned. While veterans are often victims of scams including being overcharged for home care, charged for services they did not receive, or given bad investment advice, a recent report from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office found that VA has not taken an aggressive approach to prevent this exploitation. Veterans and their families have a right to expect that the nation they protected will fight to protect them from criminals seeking to rob them of the benefits they have earned through their service, said Senator Collins.I recently chaired a hearing to raise awareness about the disproportionate number of scams targeting veterans.This bipartisan bill would address several issues raised at our hearing by requiring the VA to strengthen its fraud response as well as to educate veterans on ways to identify scams. Last month, Senator Collins held a hearing titled, Veterans Scams: Protecting Those Who Protected Us. Senator Collins also led a letter to VA Secretary Wilkie signed by nearly every member of the Aging Committee urging the Department to alert veterans to the risk of scams and seeking information on steps the VA has already taken to protect veterans. The Veteran Pension Protection Act would: Require VA to collect information on potential financial exploitation from all departments within the VA then create a plan to address trends apparent within this data. Call for VA to regularly update guidance and training curriculum to claims processors regarding the definition and examples of que… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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