url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/bipartisan-group-senators-voters-have-spoken-congress-must-fulfill-responsibility,"BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS: VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN, CONGRESS MUST FULFILL RESPONSIBILITY",2021-01-03,2021,2021-01,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS: VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN, CONGRESS MUST FULFILL RESPONSIBILITY Posted Sun, 01/03/2021 - 12:32 Washington, DC Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement on the upcoming Congressional certification of the 2020 Presidential election results. The 2020 election is over.All challenges through recounts and appeals have been exhausted.At this point, further attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 Presidential electionare contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American peopleandonly serve to undermine Americans' confidence in the already determined election results. The voters have spoken, and Congress must now fulfill its responsibility to certify the election results. In two weeks, we will begin working withour colleagues and the new Administration on bipartisan, common sense solutions to the enormous challenges facing our country.It is time to move forward. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-sworn-historic-5th-term,Senator Collins Sworn in for Historic 5th Term,2021-01-03,2021,2021-01,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ClickHEREto watch.ClickHEREfor a high-resolution video. Washington, D.C.Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins was sworn in for an historic 5th term.She was joined by her husband, TomDaffron, and escorted in the Senate Chamber by former Maine Senator and Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Maine for once again giving me the opportunity to serve,said Senator Collins.It was an honor to be accompanied to the swearing-in ceremony today by my friend, Secretary Cohen, a dedicated public servant who provided our state and our nation with many years of dedicated service.I look forward to continuing to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate, and I will work as hard as I can each and every day for better health care, more jobs, and stronger communities. On the first day of the new Congress, all new and newly re-elected Senators take a formal oath administered by the Vice President, who also serves as the President of the Senate.It is Senate tradition for a current or former Senator to escort the new or newly re-elected Senators into the chamber. Secretary Cohen represented Maine for 18 years in the Senate and six years in the House. Senator Collins worked for him for 12 years. Some facts of note: Sen. Collins is the first popularly elected U.S. Senator from Maine to be elected to a 5th term. She is the first Republican woman Senator elected to a 5th term in our nation's history. Sen. Collins was re-elected on November 3.She won: 85% of Maine's cities and towns; and 14 out of Maine's 16 counties. She is the only sitting U.S. Senator who has won re-election three times when her State voted for a presidential candidate of the other party. Sen. Collins has never missed a roll call vote. oShe is the first Senator to have a perfect voting record through his or her first four terms. oShe has cast 7,554 consecutive roll call votes. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-leads-bipartisan-group-urging-usda-provide-covid-19-financial-relief-loggers-0,"Collins Leads Bipartisan Group in Urging USDA to Provide COVID-19 Financial Relief for Loggers, Timber Haulers",2020-09-18,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. In a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, U.S. Senator Susan Collins led a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the USDA to provide financial assistance to American loggers and log haulers who have been experiencing serious financial strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter was also signed by Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Loggers and log haulers are critical to America's forest products industry which is a top-10 manufacturing industry in 45 U.S. states. Our nation's loggers and haulers harvest and transport the raw material that supports over $283 billion in value-added wood and paper products with a supply chain that includes nearly one million Americans earning over $54 billion in combined payroll, the Senators wrote. In light of the dire situation facing loggers and log haulers, we urge the Department to use its broad authority and funds already provided by Congress to immediately make financial assistance available to loggers and log haulers impacted by the pandemic. Maine loggers are not seeking a handout, they are seeking a lifeline, and without it many will not be in business much longer, said Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine. Farmers and fishermen have been given that lifeline already, and all we are asking for is the same help for the hard-working loggers and log hauling businesses of Maine. We are very thankful to Senator Collins and the Maine delegation for their recognition of loggers as equals to farmers and fisherman and we hope that USDA will do the same. Loggers are farmers of the forest and should be treated that way."" Unfortunately, the federal programs that have been administered to help businesses cope with the pandemic's impact, such as the USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), do not include loggers and log haulers. To ensure that timber harvesting and hauling businesses are afforded financial assistance similar to other agriculture sectors, Senator Collins, along with Representative Jared Golden (D-ME), led a bicameral, bipartisan group in introducing the Loggers Relief Act earlier this year. This legislation would authorize USDA to provide direct support to loggers and log haulers who experienced at least a 10 percent loss in the first seven months of 2020 (as compared to 2019). The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine project that mill closures and curtailments in Maine caused by the pandemic's ripple effects will lead to a 30 percent reduction in harvesting capacity and the layoff of nearly 1,000 people in harvesting and hauling. Over 11,000 truckloads of wood will not be delivered to a Maine mill in 2020. For an industry that is responsible for over $620 million of direct economic impact in Maine each year, these disruptions will result in a direct loss of over $186 million of economic activity. Click HERE to read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-leads-bipartisan-group-urging-usda-provide-covid-19-financial-relief-loggers-timber,"Collins Leads Bipartisan Group in Urging USDA to Provide COVID-19 Financial Relief for Loggers, Timber Haulers",2020-09-18,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. In a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, U.S. Senator Susan Collins led a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the USDA to provide financial assistance to American loggers and log haulers who have been experiencing serious financial strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter was also signed by Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Loggers and log haulers are critical to America's forest products industry which is a top-10 manufacturing industry in 45 U.S. states. Our nation's loggers and haulers harvest and transport the raw material that supports over $283 billion in value-added wood and paper products with a supply chain that includes nearly one million Americans earning over $54 billion in combined payroll, the Senators wrote. In light of the dire situation facing loggers and log haulers, we urge the Department to use its broad authority and funds already provided by Congress to immediately make financial assistance available to loggers and log haulers impacted by the pandemic. Maine loggers are not seeking a handout, they are seeking a lifeline, and without it many will not be in business much longer, said Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine. Farmers and fishermen have been given that lifeline already, and all we are asking for is the same help for the hard-working loggers and log hauling businesses of Maine. We are very thankful to Senator Collins and the Maine delegation for their recognition of loggers as equals to farmers and fisherman and we hope that USDA will do the same. Loggers are farmers of the forest and should be treated that way."" Unfortunately, the federal programs that have been administered to help businesses cope with the pandemic's impact, such as the USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), do not include loggers and log haulers. To ensure that timber harvesting and hauling businesses are afforded financial assistance similar to other agriculture sectors, Senator Collins, along with Representative Jared Golden (D-ME), led a bicameral, bipartisan group in introducing the Loggers Relief Act earlier this year. This legislation would authorize USDA to provide direct support to loggers and log haulers who experienced at least a 10 percent loss in the first seven months of 2020 (as compared to 2019). The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine project that mill closures and curtailments in Maine caused by the pandemic's ripple effects will lead to a 30 percent reduction in harvesting capacity and the layoff of nearly 1,000 people in harvesting and hauling. Over 11,000 truckloads of wood will not be delivered to a Maine mill in 2020. For an industry that is responsible for over $620 million of direct economic impact in Maine each year, these disruptions will result in a direct loss of over $186 million of economic activity. Click HERE to read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-more-66-million-support-affordable-housing-efforts-maine-amid,Senator Collins Announces More Than $6.6 Million to Support Affordable Housing Efforts in Maine Amid COVID-19,2020-09-18,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the State of Maine has received a total of $6,678,216 in the third installment of funding to support affordable housing, assistance to businesses and bolster COVID-19 prevention and response efforts throughout the state. This funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was allocated through a section of the CARES Act that Senator Collins co-authored directing $48.5 billion to support housing and transportation programs. TheCOVID-19 pandemic is taking an unprecedented toll on communities.Maine's state agencies and local governments are working hard to provide seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income families with safe and affordable homes that promote their health, independence, and overall wellbeing,said Senator Collins. As the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I worked hard to secure these vital resources to helpMainecontinue to provide critical assistance during this difficult time. The funding will be allocated as follows: Auburn received $137,932 Bangor received $283,175 Biddeford received $126,650 Lewiston received $193,379 Portland received $634,669 Cumberland County received $976,929 Maine received $4,325,482 As the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins helped to secure more than $16.5 million in the first installment and more than $4.3 million in the second installment of CARES Act funding to support affordable housing efforts throughout Maine. The funding was awarded through HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The CDBG program provides grants to states and local units of government to support housing and expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. These grants can also be used in coordination with local health authorities to respond to COVID-19. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-jd-irving-dixfield,Senator Collins Visits J.D. Irving in Dixfield,2020-09-18,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for high-resolution photos Dixfield, MEU.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Irving Forest Products in Dixfieldthis morningto tour the sawmill, speak with employees, and celebrate a $26.5 million investment in a state-of-the-art planer mill. The planer is one of the first of its type in the world and will allow Irving to use scanning technology to capture more value in the logs. With this nearly $27 million investment in Dixfield, the world's largest Eastern White Pine mill secures its place as the industry leader. Their efforts to complete this investment, especially in the midst of a global pandemic, are remarkable,said Senator Collins. In a place filled with mighty machines, the hardworking men and women in Dixfield are the engine that drives the economy of Western Maine. We are pleased to celebrate the opening of this world class planer facility. Our team - despite the challenges associated with the pandemic - have kept one another safe and completed this important investment. Together, we are working to ensure we are North America's leading white pine mill right here in Maine. It was nice to have Senator Susan Collins, State Senator Lisa Keim and State Representative Pickett tour the facility and attend the celebration with us on this beautiful September day!said Susan Coulombe, General Manager of White Pine and Hardwood for Irving Forest Products. Acquired in 1998 by J.D. Irving, Limited, the Dixfield sawmill is the largest producer of Eastern White Pine boards for interior and exterior finish applications. The sawmill serves as a market for 240 loggers throughout the area and provides wood chips to ND Paper in Rumford. J.D. Irving in Dixfield generates 20 percent of their own power, which has lowered emissions at the mill. Senator Collins, along with Representative Jared Golden (D-ME), led a bicameral, bipartisan group inintroducing theLoggers Relief Actearlier this year. This legislation would authorize USDA to provide direct support to loggers and log haulers who experienced at least a 10 percent loss in the first seven months of 2020 (as compared to 2019). ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-delegation-urges-us-trade-representative-protect-maine-wild-blueberry-producers,Maine Delegation Urges U.S. Trade Representative to Protect Maine Wild Blueberry Producers as Foreign Competitors Expand into U.S. Markets,2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON In support of the blueberry industry and its workers across the state of Maine, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined Representatives Chellie Pingree (ME-01) and Jared Golden (ME-02) in writing to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Robert Lighthizer to urge additional trade protections for Maine's wild blueberry producers and frozen blueberry processors. The delegation called on Lighthizer to ensure Maine wild blueberry growers aren't being harmed by excessive blueberry imports, while maintaining specific supply chains from Canada that drive blueberry processing in the state. To do so, the lawmakers asked the USTR to request frozen blueberries be added to a Section 201 investigation conducted by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), and if successful that Canadian imports of wild blueberries for further processing be excluded from any resulting tariffs. A Section 201 investigation can be conducted if a U.S. industry is being seriously injured or threatened with serious injury by increased importsaccording to the U.S. International Trade Commission. We write in support of the request made by the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine (the Commission) to include both cultivated and wild frozen blueberry imports in your Section 201 safeguard investigation request to the United States International Trade Commission (ITC),the delegation said in their letter. Additionally, should you impose tariffs on blueberry imports based on the ITC's findings, we strongly encourage you to exclude tariffs on Canadian wild blueberry imports in their unprocessed, not-yet-ready for consumption form, which are delivered in bulk to Maine for further processing. Last year, the Maine delegationsent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) after blueberry producers were impacted by tariffs from China, pushing for targeted relief to blueberry producers. You can read the letter to Ambassador Lighthizerhere. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-cosponsors-legislation-punish-criminals-targeting-law-enforcement-officers,Senator Collins Cosponsors Legislation to Punish Criminals for Targeting Law Enforcement Officers,2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins cosponsored theProtect and Serve Act, legislation that would create federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence. In 2020, there have been 37 law enforcement officers killed in the U.S. This is an increase of more than 20 percent since this time last year. Of those, eight were ambushed in premeditated attacks and two were victims of an unprovoked attack. The Protect and Serve Act would address this problem by giving federal prosecutors the tools they need to hold those accountable who target law enforcement for assault and attacks. The brave men and women of our state, local, and federal law enforcement make sacrifices every day to keep our communities safe, said Senator Collins. This legislation would help to ensure that those who make up the thin blue line' are protected, holding those who target or attack law enforcement officers fully accountable for their criminal actions. Under the Protect and Serve Act: It would become a federal crime to knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, serious bodily injury to a law enforcement officer. Offenders would be subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years. An offender could receive a life sentence if a death results from the offense, or the offense includes kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, or attempted murder. The law would apply to federal law enforcement officers and to state and local officers in circumstances where the federal government can establish jurisdiction over the case. The Protect and Serve Act has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations,Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association, andMajor County Sheriffs of America. The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Kennedy (R-LA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Rick Scott (R-FL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Rob Portman (R-OH), David Perdue (R-GA), Richard Burr (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), James Inhofe (R-OK), and John Boozman (R-AR). Companion legislation was introduced last year by Congressman John Rutherford (FL-4) and Congresswoman Val Demings (FL-10) in the House of Representatives. Read a one-pager of the legislation here and text of the legislation here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bipartisan-push-start-agreement-extension,Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Push for START Agreement Extension,2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in urging the administration to immediately extend the New START arms control agreement with Russia for another five years. The treaty is set to expire in February 2021, but can be extended for up to five years. Allowing New START to expire in February would have a dangerous and destabilizing effect. Losing New START's extensive and effective verification regime would create greater uncertainties about Russia's current and future nuclear plans, intentions, and capabilities, the Senators wrote. As transparency between our mutual nuclear force structures decreases, it could undermine fundamental prerequisites of mutual deterrence and increase the risks of nuclear crises similar to those we experienced during the Cold War, like the Cuban Missile Crisis. The best course of action would be for the United States to extend the current treaty, allowing time to negotiate with Russia, as well as China, on the contours of a new agreement. Some other justifiable concerns, such as the application of New START to new types of Russian strategic weapons, could be discussed through the treaty's existing Bilateral Consultative Commission, the Senators continued. Therefore, Mr. President, we urge you to use your authority to extend New START for five years and prevent us from returning to an era of destabilizing nuclear competition. The New START Treaty, initially ratified by the Senate in 2010, entered into force on February 5, 2011. The treaty limits the number of deployed nuclear warheads and deployed missiles and bombers that the United States and Russia can maintain, as well as provides a monitoring and verification regime. Click HERE to read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-more-700000-increase-safety-windhamraymond-and-lee-school,"Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $700,000 to Increase Safety in Windham/Raymond and Lee School Districts",2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that two Maine school districts have been awarded a total of $703,982 to enhance and further integrate local school violence prevention efforts between school administrators and law enforcement, train law enforcement officers to prevent student violence, install deterrent measures, purchase and install technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency, and other measures. This funding was awarded through the Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office. Protecting students and ensuring that schools remain safe learning environments are of paramount importance,said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We welcome this investment, which will help the Windham/Raymond and Lee School Districts enhance school safety as students begin returning to the classroom. The funding will be allocated as follows: RSU 14 Windham/Raymond School District received $472,997 MSAD 30 Lee School District received $230,985 This funding is provided through the DOJ's Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP): School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has continuously supported legislation that funds STOP programs. Both Senators Collins and King also cosponsored the STOP School Violence Act, which became law in 2018, and aims to enhance school safety by helping local communities fund new training, reporting systems, and security infrastructure. Maine has received more than $2 million through this program since its enactment. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-urges-administration-work-find-agreement-canada-fishing-gray-zone,Senator Collins Urges Administration to Work to Find Agreement with Canada on Fishing Gray Zone,2020-09-16,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins sent a letter to President Trump urging the Administration to work with Maine and Canadian fisheries to find a solution to conservation issues that unfairly harm Maine's seafood industry. Lobstermen and fishermen who work in the Gray Zonean area located approximately ten miles off the coast of Maine between the U.S. and Canadaare growing increasingly frustrated that their Canadian counterparts who fish in the same areas are not required to follow the same regulations, and thus are undermining American protections and threatening the sustainability of the stock. This disparity undermines American protections, threatens the sustainability of the stocks, and causes dangerous interactions at sea. Maine lobstermen and fishermen have been waiting far too long for a resolution to the Gray Zone dispute, and the toll it is taking on their businesses, their safety, and the resources on which their livelihoods depend continues to mount, wrote Senator Collins. I look forward to working with your Administration to address the inequities presented by the Gray Zone in order to protect our seafood harvesters and invaluable natural resources. Generations of Maine lobstermen have marked the tails of egg-bearing females they catch with a v-notch and returned them to the water, allowing them to lay eggs, grow larger, and reproduce in future years. Maine lobstermen also abide by a maximum size limit, tossing back oversized lobsters in order to keep the stock strong. Because Canada does not impose such conservation measures on its fisheries, a v-notched or oversized lobster tossed back by a Maine lobsterman can be caught by a Canadian lobsterman merely yards away and brought to market. At a Commerce Appropriations Subcommittee hearing last year, Senator Collins received a commitment from Dr. Neil Jacobs, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, to work to explore the possibility of developing a fisheries agreement between the U.S. and Canada that would provide for cooperative management of the Gray Zone. Senator Collins secured report language in the Fiscal Year 2020 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill highlighting this problem and urging NOAA to work on cooperative resolution. Additionally, Senator Collinssecured key fundingto support Maine's lobster industry and fisheriesas well as the National Sea Grant Program and other ocean research initiativesin the fiscal year 2020 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies funding bill that was signed into law in December. Click HERE to read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-200000-combat-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-disease-maine,"Senator Collins Announces $200,000 to Combat Alzheimers Disease in Maine",2020-09-15,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Aging Committee and a Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, announced that $200,000 has been awarded to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), in partnership with the Maine Office of Aging and Disability Service, to establish a comprehensive approach to prevent Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and expand public health partner initiatives on research, clinical education, and caregiver support. Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest and most under-recognized public health threats of our time. Millions of Americans and thousands of Mainers are living with this disease, and that number is soaring as our overall population grows older and people live longer,said Senator Collins. This funding, awarded through the BOLD Act that I authored, will support an expansion of our modern infrastructure for the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer's and related dementias. The funding was awarded through the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, legislation that Senator Collins authored. The BOLD Act authorized $100 million over five years to develop a public health approach that will improve prevention, treatment, and care for Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 5.5 million Americansand 28,000 Mainersare living with Alzheimer's. This disease costs the United States more than $277 billion per year, including $186 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. Without further action, the number of Americans with Alzheimer's is expected to triple to as many as 14 million by 2050, costing the nation more than $1.1 trillion per year. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-111603-mental-health-resources-york-county-sheriff%E2%80%99s-office,"Senators Collins, King Announce $111,603 for Mental Health Resources at York County Sheriffs Office",2020-09-15,2020,2020-09,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 York County Sheriff's Office has been awarded $111,603 to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement officers. This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice's Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program. As we combat the COVID-19 pandemic, communities across Maine continue to rely on local law enforcement to help keep them safe, and they deserve our ongoing support, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This critical investment will help ensure that the York County Sheriff's Office has the resources it needs to provide law enforcement officers with services that promote their wellbeing. This funding will support the York County Sheriff Office's York County Peer Support Project, an effort aimed at expanding mental health resources to officers through training and technical assistance; demonstration projects; implementation of promising practices related to peer mentoring, mental health, and wellness; and suicide prevention programs. Last year, the Supporting and Treating Officers in Crisis Act that was introduced by Senators Collins, Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) was signed into law. The legislation restores grant funding for law enforcement support services and allows grant recipients to use funds to establish suicide-prevention programs and mental health services for law enforcement officers. In May, Senators Collins and King joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues in introducing a resolution recognizing the week of May 10 through May 16 as National Police Week, which passed unanimously. This resolution honored police officers, sheriffs, and other law enforcement officers in Maine and throughout the country for serving our communities with valor, dignity, and integrity. To date, Senators Collins and Angus Kinghave announced more than $4.4 million in funding through the CARES Act for Maine law enforcement to prevent and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/following-collins-king-push-faa-makes-move-open-grant-programs-end-year,"Following Collins, King Push, FAA Makes Move to Open Grant Programs By End of Year",2020-09-14,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded a move by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to invest in the future of America's aviation and maintenance workforce by opening two key grant programs up to applicants later this year. The decision comes within weeks of Senators Collins and King pushing the FAA and Department of Transportation (DOT) to fully implement these programs and expand the development of the next generation of aircraft pilots and maintenance technicians their September 1st letter with a number of Senate colleagues can be read HERE. A strong aviation workforce is critical to America's economy, supporting not only this important sector but all the other economic activity that relies on the aviation industry, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. These programs, which were first enacted by Congress two years ago, are a vital tool to help bolster our nation's aviation workforce. We look forward to seeing these funding programs open before the end of the year, so that Maine students can benefit from the opportunity to explore potential careers in aviation-related fields. Further information and updates on the status of the FAA's aviation and maintenance grant programs can be found HERE. Senators Collins and King were both cosponsors of legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for five years, which passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support in 2018. The legislation, authorized funding for all FAA programs, including FAA operations, research and development, aviation programs, extension of expiring authorities, airport planning and improvement, and noise compatibility and programs. Senator Collins, as the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, secured full funding for these programs in the FY20 Transportation Appropriations bill. Last year, Senators King and James Inhofe (R-Okla.) introduced the Promoting the Launch of Aviation's Next Era (PLANE) Act of 2019. This bipartisan legislation would empower the voices of pilots, invest in airport infrastructure and ensure more opportunities for a trained aviation workforce. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/more-25-million-covid-19-financial-relief-has-been-awarded-maine-farmers,More Than $25 Million in COVID-19 Financial Relief has been Awarded to Maine Farmers,2020-09-14,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that Maine farmers have been awarded a total of$25,159,777 to dateto help offset the financial harm they have experienced due to COVID-19. The funding is provided through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), created through the CARES Act, which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America's farmers. The supply chain disruptions and restaurant closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have placed increasing financial pressure on Maine's rural farming communities, from newly founded farms to operations that have been passed down from generation to generation,said Senator Collins.These direct payments, which I worked to include in the CARES Act, will help provide some relief.During this difficult time, I will continue to advocate for Mainefarmers. In addition to facilitating the Farmers to Families Food Box program, CFAPis providing vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face significant additionalmarketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities. Farmers will receive direct support from two funding sources: The first is $9.5 billion in appropriated funding provided in the CARES Act, which will compensatefarmers for losses due to price declines that occurred between mid-January 2020 and mid-April 2020 and provides support for specialty crops. The second is the Commodity Credit Corporation, which will compensate producers for $6.5 billion in losses due to ongoing market disruptions. To date, the funding has been allocated as follows: Dairy farmershave been awarded $8,721,623. Livestock farmershave been awarded $1,455,541. Non-Specialty crop farmershave been awarded $693,614. Specialty crop farmershave been awarded $14,288,998. More information aboutCFAP can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) resource page:Farmers.gov/cfap. +++ Following a push by Maine's Congressional Delegation and Governor Janet Mills, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in August that maple syrup producersare now eligible for CFAP's direct financial relief. In June, Senator Collins, along with and Senator King and Representatives Pingree and Golden, senta letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue (PDF)in support ofmaplesyrupproducers' eligibility for direct relief from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). In addition to maple syrup producers, aquaculture farmers were also made eligible for CFAP payments after Sen. Collins and the delegation urged USDA to include them in the program. In April, Senator Collins and the delegation sent a letter to Sec. Perdue in support of aquaculture farmers' eligibility for this direct relief. In July, Senator Collins visited Van Buren, where 760 food boxes through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program were distributed to members of the community. The food boxes, which contained products from Maine farmers, were purchased through a $2.14 million contract recently awarded to Maine Farmers Exchange (MFX) to participate in the program. Additionally, Senator Collins recently visited Native Maine Produce and Specialty Foodsto meet with managers and employees andcelebratea $1.35 million contract the wholesale food distributor was recently awardedto distribute 45,000 food boxes, each holding 25 pounds of produce, to Maine food banks. Senator Collins has helped to lead bipartisan efforts in Congress to direct more support to farmers. Sheco-signed a series of lettersto the USDA, urging Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize assistance to Maine farmers, including those in the dairy, potato, and blueberry industries. Senator Collins and Representative Pingreealsowrote to USDAto emphasize the need to provide assistance directly to growers as well as support local producers and their supply chains, andshe joinedSenators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in leading a group of bipartisan Senators in urging the USDA to target COVID-19 relief provisions to reach local farmers. In aletterto the USDA, Senator Collins elevated the concerns and questions raised by representatives of the potato industry, including the Maine Potato Board, who are facing an unprecedented crisis due to the economic impact of COVID-19. Furthermore, Senator Collins offered recommendations for theCFAPthat would address the supply backlogand called for direct relief for potato growers. In May, Senators Collins, King, and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)introduced the Farming Support to States Act, a bipartisan bill to provide states access to immediate, flexible funding to aid in responding to urgent and emerging issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in America's agriculture economy and food supply chain. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/partnership-between-va-onstar-will-increase-access-suicide-prevention-resources-veterans,"Partnership Between VA, OnStar Will Increase Access to Suicide Prevention Resources for Veterans",2020-09-14,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins commended the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) partnership with OnStar's emergency services to improve access to suicide prevention resources for veterans. The partnership will allow veterans in crisis to use the emergency services button in an OnStar-equipped vehicle or the OnStar Guardian smartphone app to be transferred to the VA's Veterans Crisis Line, which provides around-the-clock, confidential support. The men and women who served our nation in uniform should never have to face a crisis or experience suicidal thoughts alone,said Senator Collins. This groundbreaking partnership will help ensure that veterans in Maine and throughout the country have access to immediate and high-quality mental health programs and resources when they need it most. An average of 20 veterans die by suicide each day. Through this partnership, VA and OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, will collaborate to provide education and training to VA clinicians and OnStar call center staff. Additionally, VA will provide resources and education to OnStar about military culture and how to determine if a caller is a veteran. Senator Collins, who represents a state with the second-highest percentage of veterans in the nation, has been a longstanding champion of increasing mental health care access for veterans. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the VA, she has year-after-year pushed to increase funding for mental health services and suicide prevention outreach. She recently joined the Maine delegation in celebrating the announcement of the approval of a new 24-bed residential Substance Use Disorder treatment center at Togus. Additionally, Senator Collins is a recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Congressional Award for her work to support veterans. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-passing-maj-gen-durgin,Senator Collins Statement on Passing of Maj. Gen. Durgin,2020-09-14,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom Senator Collins' Statement on Passing of Maj. Gen. Durgin Posted Sun, 09/13/2020 - 21:41 Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued this statement on Maj. Gen. NelsonEckleyDurgin, who passed away on September 11, 2020: I first met Nelson when we were both in the cabinet of Governor JohnMcKernan, and Nelson was Maine's Adjutant General. He was a leader of such integrity who was dedicated to serving others, a quality that defined his entire life, including his 35 years in the Maine Air National Guard, his more than two decades on the board of St. Joseph Hospital, and his years on the Bangor City Council.My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Carla and their children. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-more-21-million-railroad-serves-downeaster-amid-covid-19,Senator Collins Announces More Than $2.1 Million for Railroad That Serves the Downeaster Amid COVID-19,2020-09-14,2020,2020-09,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 Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) has been awarded $2,140,075 for operating and preventive maintenance expenses. This funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA), was allocated through a section of the CARES Act that Senator Collins authored that directed $48.5 billion to support transportation and housing programs. Passenger rail systems are facing significant financial pressures due to the ongoing pandemic. The Downeaster serves as an economic engine for Maine, providing good jobs, supporting local vendors of goods and services, and strengthening our tourism industry,said Senator Collins. This critical investment will allow the Downeaster to make important improvements to its rail line in Maine, enhancing safety, efficiency, and reliability for the hundreds of thousands of passengers who use this service each year. As the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins announced more than $83 million earlier this year to help Maine's public transportation systems respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NNEPRA is a public transportation authority created in 1995 by the Maine State Legislature to develop and provide passenger rail service between Maine and Boston and points within Maine. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-more-23-million-prevent-domestic-violence-and-protect,"Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $2.3 Million to Prevent Domestic Violence and Protect Survivors",2020-09-14,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that several organizations throughout the State of Maine have been awarded a total of $2,312,338 to support rape crisis centers and assist victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are homeless or in need of housing assistance. The funding was awarded through the Office of Violence Against Women, an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice. In addition to our efforts to prevent domestic violence and sexual assault, we must ensure that all survivors receive the resources they need to ensure their safety and wellbeing,said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This funding will help strengthen our state's response to these crimes and allow Maine non-profit organizations to continue to protect victims in their communities. The funding was allocated as follows: The State of Maine received $388,589 to assist rape crisis centers and organizations that provide core services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault, regardless of age. New Hope for Women in Rockland, in collaboration with Sanford Housing Authority and York County Community Action Corporation, received $515,000 to provide five scattered-site residences for five survivors and their families through private landlord housing units. Partners for Peace in Bangor, in collaboration with Piscataquis County Sheriff's Office, Millinocket Police Department, Millinocket Regional Hospital, Mayo Regional Hospital, and Rape Response Services, received $510,253 to expand relationships with law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and emergency departments, reduce barriers of access for older populations, and expand training and resources. Caring Unlimited Corporation in Sanford, in collaboration with New Ventures Maine, received $400,000 to provide 11 program-owned units and rental assistance for four scattered-site housing units. The organization also received $498,496, in collaboration with York County Sheriff's Office, to expand personnel, increase the quality and efficiency of domestic violence case investigations, and strengthen planning and coordination efforts. New Hope for Women, Partners for Peace, and Caring Unlimited Corporations are non-profit organizations that provide a holistic, victim-centered, and multidisciplinary approach to transitional housing needs in the community. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins consistently advocates for funding for VAWA programs. Senator King is an original cosponsor of the Violence Against Women Act of 2019. With Senators Collins and King's support, Congress passed a funding package for FY 2020 that included $502.5 million for the VAWA programs an increase of $5 million from FY 2019. Maine has received more than $110 million through VAWA since 2006. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-joins-colleagues-bipartisan-letter-calling-cdc-hhs-improve-and-modernize-covid-19,"Collins Joins Colleagues in Bipartisan Letter Calling on CDC, HHS to Improve and Modernize COVID-19 Data Collection and Management",2020-09-11,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.As communities across the country grapple with how to reopen as safely as possible, U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined a bipartisan group ofSenatorsin calling on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve, automate, and modernize COVID-19 data collection and management. In alettersent to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield, the lawmakers called on the agencies to harness technologically advanced systems and build on existing data sources in order to provide public health officials and community leaders with more accurate, real-time information as they make critical decisions about reopening. During an emergency such as the current pandemic, scaling up and using existing systems to the greatest extent possible can improve data collection and contact tracing efforts,the Senators wrote.We therefore ask that you and your colleagues utilize and build on existing data sources, such as electronic health record (EHR) andlaboratory information management systems (LIMS), claims databases, and other automated systems to provide government leaders, public health officials, community leaders, and others with actionable, easy-to-interpret data from a wide-ranging set of sources. Fortunately, software-based systems providing data management for state public health entities and major testing laboratories already exist, and they are more efficient and accurate while reducing the burden of excess paperwork,the Senators continued. By managing the patient and order requisition information electronically,lab processing time is reduced and transcription errors are eliminated. The lawmakers emphasized that the data generated by contact tracing, syndromic surveillance, and large-scale testing can help inform decisions on how to safely reopen communities and bring economies back online. They stated that modernizing and automating data collection should augment detection, testing, and contact tracing plans, while also helping to prevent and improve the management of new outbreaks. In addition to Senator Collins, the letter was signed by Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tina Smith (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Mark Warner (D-VA). ClickHEREto read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/commemorating-19th-anniversary-911,Commemorating the 19th Anniversary of 9/11,2020-09-11,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Nineteen years have passed, but the memory of September 11, 2001, remains as vivid as if it were yesterday. We each have our own recollections of where we were and what we were doing as the horrifying attacks began to unfold. We share the still powerful emotions of shock, anger, and grief. On this solemn anniversary, we join all Americans in remembering each of the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day lives of accomplishment, contribution, and promise. Each loss leaves a wound in the hearts of families and friends that can never be fully healed. Here in Maine, we remember Robert and Jackie Norton of Lubec, a retired couple who boardedFlight 11 to celebrate a son's wedding on the West Coast. We remember James Roux of Portland, an Army veteran and a devoted father, on Flight 175 for a business meeting in California. We remember Robert Schlegel of Gray who was celebrating his recent promotion to the rank of Commander in the United States Navy, and still settling into his new office at the Pentagon. We remember Stephen Ward of Gorham, who was working on the 101stfloor of the North Tower that terrible morning. And we honor the heroes of that day. We still are moved by the selfless courage of men and women on Flight 93 who wrestled that plane to the ground, sacrificing their lives so that others might live. We are inspired by the firefighters and police officers at the World Trade Center who continued to climb upward in rescue even as the Twin Towers were coming down. We pay tribute to the first responders, the military personnel, and the civilians who rushed into the smoke and flames at the Pentagon to lead others to safety. We express our gratitude to those who have given so much to defend our nation against terrorism -- the men and women of our armed forces. On the evening of that terrible day, members of Congress gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. With tears in our eyes and resolve in our hearts, together we sang, God Bless America. The emotions of shock, anger, and grief were joined by unity, resolve, and patriotism. That moment remains my most enduring memory of that awful day. The sense of resolve and patriotism that swept over us as we sang was a source of strength in the challenges we faced. That spirit of bipartisanship and cooperation helped bring Congress together to pass new laws to protect the American people. As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I led many efforts to help prevent another major terrorist attack, including co-authoring reform legislation to coordinate our nation's intelligence-gathering capabilities and spearheading changes to better secure America's transportation networks, chemical plants, and other critical infrastructure. Today, our nation is experiencing a different set of challenges. In order to overcome them, we need to recapture that feeling of unity our country experienced following September 11th. We must strive to work together for the common good. We should respect our neighbors who hold different views from our own. The heroism we witnessed on September 11threminds us of the unconquerable spirit of the American people. Our accomplishments remind us that we can meet any difficulty with decisive action. As long as we keep the meaning of this day of remembrance in our hearts, we shall meet our present challenges as well as the ones that lie ahead. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bipartisan-group-secretary-wilkie-urging-house-action-veterans,"Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group, Secretary Wilkie Urging House Action on Veterans Suicide Prevention Legislation",2020-09-11,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined a bipartisan group of colleagues and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie in urging House leadership to pass the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, legislation that would expand mental health resources for veterans both inside and outside the VA. The Senate unanimously passed this legislation on August 5. The legislation has been endorsed by numerous veteran service organizations (VSOs) and mental health organizations, including the Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. This legislation is named for Commander John Scott Hannon, a decorated Navy SEAL veteran from Montana who lost his life to the invisible wounds of war in 2018. Sadly he is not alone, as many as 20 veterans die by suicide each day, and recent research has shown that for every one death by suicide, over 115 people are directly affected and negatively impacted, the Senators wrote. Suicide is a national tragedy and these deaths are preventable if the right care, services and supports are available for our nation's veterans at-risk of suicide. This legislation makes investments in veteran-serving community organizations across the nation to reach vulnerable veterans not currently connected to VA care to provide wrap-around suicide prevention services with the VA, the Senators continued. Additionally, the bill establishes increased accountability over the Department's mental health and suicide prevention programs, expands VA telehealth capabilities to better serve rural veterans, bolsters and expedites federal research capabilities, directs VA to embark on a precision medicine initiative that will improve how mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated, and makes necessary improvements to the VA mental health workforce. Senator Collins, who represents a state with the second-highest percentage of veterans in the nation, has been a longstanding champion of increasing mental health care access for veterans. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the VA, she has year after year pushed to increase funding for mental health services and suicide prevention outreach. She recently joined the Maine Delegation in celebrating the announcement of the approval of a new 24-bed residential Substance Use Disorder treatment center at Togus. In addition, Senator Collins, along with Secretary Wilkie, recently delivered remarks at the Dedication Ceremony for the Acadia National Cemetery in Jonesboro. In August, she joined Senate colleagues in introducing the Veteran Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020 to improve benefits for veterans in the areas of education, pensions, burials, and survivor benefits. The legislation includes elements of the bipartisan Veteran Pension Protection Act, legislation Senator Collins co-authored that would require VA to systematically track victims, scammers, and trends to proactively protect veterans and survivors across the country from predatory pension poachers. In addition to Senator Collins, the letter was signed by Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT), and Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Michael Rounds (R-SD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mark Warner (D-VA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), John Boozman (R-AR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chris Coons (D-DE), Martha McSally (R-AZ), Jack Reed (D-RI), John Hoeven (R-ND), Tim Kaine (D-VA), James Risch (R-ID), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Doug Jones (D-AL), Rob Portman (R-OH), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tina Smith (D-MN). Click HERE to read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-freeport-flag-ladies-911-commemoration,Senator Collins Joins Freeport Flag Ladies in 9/11 Commemoration,2020-09-11,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for a high-resolution photo Freeport, ME This morning, U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined the Freeport Flag LadiesElaine Greene, Carmen Footer, and JoAnn Millerin waving American flags in commemoration of September 11, 2001, on Main Street in Freeport. Also in attendance were local first responders, veterans, and representatives of Honor Flight Maine. I was honored to join the Freeport Flag Ladies on this solemn anniversary to honor each of the 2,977 lives lost 19 years ago, said Senator Collins. The Freeport Flag Ladies' dedication and patriotism continue to inspire us all. They are among those throughout our nation who transformed one of America's darkest days into one of our finest hours. Three days after that horrific day in 2001, President Bush asked Americans to step outside their homes with lighted candles in memory of the heroes and those lost on 9/11. Living on a secluded road, Elaine, Carmen, and JoAnn instead took their candles and an American flag to Main Street in Freeport.They made a promise to stand with their flags on Main Street each and every Tuesday morning between the hours of 8 and 9, to mark the day and time of the attacks.Last year, theFreeport Flagladies retired and Wreaths Across Americahascontinued the tradition of waving flags every Tuesday along U.S. Route 1 in Jonesboro. Last July, Senator Collins submitted a statement for the Congressional Record to pay tribute to the Freeport Flag Ladies prior to their retirement. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-cosponsor-bipartisan-resolution-recognizing-911-national-day-service,"Senators Collins, King Cosponsor Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing 9/11 as National Day of Service and Remembrance",2020-09-11,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King cosponsored a bipartisan and bicameral resolution that recognizes September 11 as a national day of service and encourages the American public to engage in a charitable service of their choosing on or around 9/11. Nineteen years have passed, but the memory of September 11, 2001, remains as vivid as if it were yesterday. On this solemn anniversary, we join all Americans in remembering each of the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day lives of accomplishment, contribution, and promise, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. In tribute to the individuals who lost their lives and to those who came to the aid of those in need during the devastating attacks, this resolution observes September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance,' encouraging Americans to personally reflect and perform an act of service to commemorate this powerful day. Americans in every corner of our country are committed to the promise to Never Forget' the attacks on our nation 19 years ago and, most important, the loss of life and injury to countless of our family members, friends and colleagues,said Jay S. Winuk, whose younger brother Glenn J. Winuk, an attorney and volunteer firefighter/EMT, died in the line of duty when the South Tower collapsed. Winuk is the co-founder of9/11 Day, the nation's largest annual day of charitable engagement.This resolution rightly and powerfully honors those directly affected by the events of 9/11 and calls on the nation to come together in tribute and service to strengthen our bonds as Americans, especially meaningful in these challenging times. In 2009 following calls by families of those killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress established that date as a National Day of Service and Remembrance in tribute to the 9/11 victims, first responders, recovery workers, volunteers, and members of the U.S. military who rose in service in defense of our nation. This year, Senators Collins and King joined their colleagues in the Senate and House of Representatives to reaffirm that commitment and honor the heroes who rose to service in response to attacks in New York City, outside Washington, D.C. in northern Virginia, and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In the Senate, the resolution was also cosponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jackie Rosen (D-Nev.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.). In the House, the resolution was also cosponsored by U.S. Representatives David Price (D-N.C.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Michael San Nicolas (D-Guam), David Joyce (R-Ohio), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.) Greg Steube (R-Fla.), Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.), and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.). Click HERE to read the full resolution. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-cassidy-hyde-smith-call-swift-passage-legislation-provide-500-billion-local,"Collins, Cassidy, Hyde-Smith Call for Swift Passage of Legislation to Provide $500 Billion to Local Governments Amid COVID-19 Crisis",2020-09-10,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) filed the State and Municipal Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Act as an amendment to the Senate COVID-19 relief package today. Consideration of the relief package received the support of a majority of Senators by a vote of 52-47, but it failed to reach 60 votes required to advance. Senators Collins, Cassidy, and Hyde-Smith emphasized the urgent need to advance the SMART Act which they introduced earlier this year with Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). Without federal assistance, governors and local leaders have warned that budget shortfalls caused by the coronavirus crisis will require deep cuts to essential services and layoffs or tax increases. With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to devastate our public health and our economy, towns and cities across our country are facing increasingly significant new challenges and plummeting revenues at the exact same time, said Senator Collins. The SMART Act is a good example of how the Senate and the House should negotiate on a bipartisan basis. Let's enact the SMART Act as part of the next coronavirus package to help prevent widespread furloughs of state and local public servants and avoid cuts to essential services at the worst possible time for working families. State and local aid seems to be a main sticking point in negotiations. The SMART Act strikes a balance between both sides' demands, which increases the likelihood of a broader COVID relief bill passing. Our goal is to help those who need it. This is not the time for politics as usual, said Dr. Cassidy. I'm disappointed with the stalled COVID-19 relief negotiations, but I consider this SMART Act amendment a sign of optimism that we will eventually work together to help avoid significant layoffs, tax hikes, and essential services disruptions in our communities and states. The economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will be with us for the foreseeable future, and our bipartisan proposal should be included in any relief package sent to the President, Senator Hyde-Smith said. Last month, Senators Collins, Menendez, and Cassidy spoke from the Senate floor to urge the Senate to swiftly pass the SMART Act. The bipartisan SMART Act would provide $500 billion in emergency funding to every state, county, and community in the country. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-covid-19-relief-package,Senator Collins Statement on COVID-19 Relief Package,2020-09-10,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins released this statement today following the Senate's vote on the COVID-19 relief package. The legislation received the support of a majority of Senators by a vote of 52-47, but it failed to reach 60 votes required to advance. This legislation is a starting point for negotiations on a bipartisan relief package that can be signed into law. The bill includes a much-needed extension of the Paycheck Protection Program I authored with Senator Marco Rubio authorizing $257 billion in forgivable loans for small businesses. The provisions would allow the hardest-hit small businesses to receive a second forgivable loan and reopen the application process for small business owners who have yet to apply. Thus far in Maine, the PPP has provided $2.3 billion in forgivable loans to more than 28,000 small businesses, helping to sustain more than 255,000 jobs. The bill includes a number of other provisions that I advocated for, such as a significant boost in funding for testing, financial relief for farmers and fishermen, and support for child care and our public schools. On the other hand, the bill has some notable omissions. For example, the package should provide direct assistance to municipalities, such as the SMART Act I co-sponsored, that would help towns and cities avoid deep cuts to essential services and layoffs of paramedics, firefighters, police, sanitation workers, public health and public works employees, and other front-line workers. Along with Senator Cassidy, I filed the bipartisan SMART Act as an amendment to the package, and believe this is a good example of how the Senate and House should negotiate to consider bills where there is bipartisan agreement. Moreover, the bill does not provide workable assistance for public schools. I recently spoke with superintendents throughout the State and visited schools in Hollis and Houlton, and I have seen first-hand the expensive modifications they have made to help keep students and staff healthy. Funding should not be conditioned on whether a school is fully open. The strings preventing more education funding from going to schools with hybrid or virtual instruction should be cut, which is why I, along with the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, filed an amendment to strike that misguided requirement from the package. And, I oppose providing expensive tax credits that open the door to private school vouchers. I am also working with Senator Jack Reed and our growing list of bipartisan co-sponsors to provide assistance to the motorcoach industry, which has not received any federal assistance yet has been devastated by the pandemic. The first step to improve and strengthen this relief package is to begin debating it. I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to set aside partisan politics and to come together, as we have over the last several months, to provide much-needed relief to support the health of Americans and the health of our economy in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-45-million-rehabilitate-and-replace-seven-bridges-maine,Senator Collins Announces $45 Million to Rehabilitate and Replace Seven Bridges in Maine,2020-09-10,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Since 2009, when Senator Collins became a member of the Appropriations Committee, she has secured more than $721 million for competitive transportation grants for Maine Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that Maine will receive a total of $45 million through the federal BUILD grant program to fund two transportation projects replacing or rehabilitating six bridges in rural Maine and one connecting Waterville and Winslow. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao called Senator Collins this afternoon to notify her that these projects, for which Senator Collins strongly advocated, would receive federal funding. Improving Maine's infrastructure is one of my top priorities as Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. I am delighted to announce this $45 million investment to replace and rehabilitate deteriorated bridges that will benefit residents in rural Maine, said Senator Collins. If these bridges were allowed to continue to deteriorate, they would become subject to eventual closure, resulting in substantial detours and economic harm. These projects will strengthen our transportation network, helping Mainers reach their homes and jobs more quickly and supporting our economy. These structures represent vital connections necessary to support and sustain Maine's local economies. The two Maine transportation projects that will receive funding are as follows: 1. Bridging the Economy of Rural Maine Project. MaineDOT will receive $20 million to replace five at-risk bridges in poor condition and rehabilitate another compromised bridge. The bridges are located in Litchfield/West Gardiner, Stonington, Greenbush, Southport, Milo, and Bridgewater. All of the bridges were built more than 80 years ago, with the oldest constructed in 1923. The substantial impact of forced closures due to substandard bridge conditions would be devastating to our rural communities. 2. Ticonic Bridge Project. MaineDOT will receive $25 million to replace the 111-year-old Ticonic Bridge connecting Waterville and Winslow with a modern bridge featuring wider lanes, shoulders, sidewalks, and bike lanes. The bridge, which spans the Kennebec River, currently accommodates more than 16,000 vehicles daily. The project will eliminate the possibility of an eight-mile detour and related congestion should the current bridge fail, and will create long-lasting positive impacts on the communities and industries in the area. As Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins has championed robust funding for the BUILD program and an emphasis on replacing deteriorating bridges in rural America. Since 2009, when Senator Collins became a member of the Appropriations Committee, she has secured more than $721 million in competitive grants for the State of Maine. In November 2019, Senator Collins announced $44.6 million to replace a bridge in Woolwich and build the Town of Lubec's Safe Harbor project. In September 2019, Senator Collins hosted Secretary Chao in Yarmouth, where they announced more than $61 million to replace eight Maine bridges. This year, the Department of Transportation received 656 eligible BUILD applications requesting more than $9.18 billion in funding. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-effort-ensure-law-enforcement-officials-are-protected,Senator Collins Joins Effort to Ensure Law Enforcement Officials Are Protected,2020-09-10,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Pat Toomey (R-PA), James Inhofe (R-OK), David Perdue (R-GA), Mike Braun (R-IN), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr concerning the recent rise in individuals willing to justify targeting law enforcement officers for harassment, assault, and deadly attacks. Over the past three months, our nation has been in the midst of a vital debate about the relationship between law enforcement and our communities,wrote the Senators.All of us agree that this is a crucial debate, which is why each of us supported Senator Tim Scott's JUSTICE Act to provide for more accountability and transparency in law enforcement. But while we seek to support law enforcement, this debate has also exposed the radical voices of those who would defund' our police departments. The brave men and women in our law enforcement community are essential to public safety and stability. We know that you and the Justice Department are doing everything you can to protect the lives of law enforcement, and to prosecute violent offenders who assault and kill law enforcement officers, the Senators continued. However, given the attacks we are seeing against law enforcement officers, we believe it is time to consider whether your Department needs additional authorities, resources, and tools to combat this activity. Read the full letterHEREand below. Dear Attorney General Barr, Over the past three months, our nation has been in the midst of a vital debate about the relationship between law enforcement and our communities. All of us agree that this is a crucial debate, which is why each of us supported Senator Tim Scott's JUSTICE Act to provide for more accountability and transparency in law enforcement. But while we seek to support law enforcement, this debate has also exposed the radical voices of those who would defund our police departments. Scenes from across the country have shown Americans the dangers of defunding the police. While peaceful protesters have rightly called for justice and reform, demonstrations have been exploited by extremists interested only in their radical views. We need look no further than the protests in Portland, where peaceful demonstrations by day turn into skirmishes at night. Each evening, law enforcement officers are placed in physical danger while trying to safeguard lives and property from violent assaults by these agitators. The American people understand that what is happening in Portland is a precursor to what life would be like if we defunded the police. The rhetoric employed by those who support defunding the police has deepened the divides in our community. It has also encouraged hostility to the men and women who protect public safety. As a result, we are increasingly seeing individuals willing to justify targeting law enforcement officers for harassment, assault, and deadly attacks. This is a dangerous and unacceptable state of affairs. So far this year, there have been 36 law enforcement officers killed in the U.S. This is an increase of 20% during the same time last year. Of those, 8 were ambushed in premeditated attacks, 2 were victims of an unprovoked attack, and the other 26 officers were killed in the line of duty. During the past three months alone: In St. Louis, former Moline Acres Police Chief David Dorn was shot and killed when he attempted to stop looters; In Las Vegas, an officer was shot and critically wounded when protests turned violent; In Oakland, a federal officer was shot and killed while protecting a federal building; In Buffalo, a demonstration at the Police Department became dangerous when two officers were hit by a vehicle, and another run over; In New York City, there have been multiple attacks including an officer who was struck by a vehicle, an officer who was stabbed in the neck, and two officers who suffered gunshot wounds; and In Salt Lake City, a police officer was hit in the head with a baseball bat following a demonstration. This list is merely a sampling of the violence which is being committed against our law enforcement community each and every day. There are countless other examples of major and minor injuries which have resulted from attacks by the anarchists who seek to use peaceful protests as a means to their violent ends. The brave men and women in our law enforcement community are essential to public safety and stability. We know that you and the Justice Department are doing everything you can to protect the lives of law enforcement, and to prosecute violent offenders who assault and kill law enforcement officers. However, given the attacks we are seeing against law enforcement officers, we believe it is time to consider whether your Department needs additional authorities, resources, and tools to combat this activity. Accordingly, we ask that you answer the following questions by no later than October 9, 2020: 1. Does the Department believe that enhanced criminal penalties for purposefully targeting law enforcement officers would be helpful in stemming this violent conduct? 2. If the Department believes that enhanced criminal penalties would deter targeted violence towards police, how would the Department recommend that Congress enact such penalties? In other words, should Congress enact a new statutory crime for direct targeting of police, or would other changes to existing law or sentencing policies accomplish the same goal? 3. What resources does the Department currently dedicate to combatting targeted crimes toward law enforcement? Does the Department need any additional resources or tools to combat these enhanced attacks? 4. Outside of new statutory authorities or financial resources, is there anything else the Department needs from Congress in order to more fully deter crime against law enforcement officers? We thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you to continue to protect our nation's brave law enforcement officers. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-warns-continuing-social-security-imposter-scam,Senator Collins Warns of Continuing Social Security Imposter Scam,2020-09-10,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, is warning older Americans of continuing scam attempts involving criminals posing as Social Security Administration (SSA) employees and attempting to steal seniors' hard-earned savings and personal information. The Social Security impersonation scam was the most common fraud reported to the Committee's Fraud Hotline last year, and it is on track to be the most-reported scam again this year. Most reports of this scam follow a similar pattern. Victims receive an unsolicited phone call purporting to come from the SSA. Scammers often use robocalls so the victims are met with an automated voice when they answer the phone. The automated message warns of a problem with the victims' Social Security number (SSN) or Social Security account and urges them to press 1 to be connected with an agent. Victims who press 1 are connected with a scammer, who tells them that their Social Security account is about to be suspended, often because it is allegedly connected to a crime in some way. The fraudster will claim that the situation can only be resolved by providing sensitive personal information or paying a sum of money using a specified means of payment, such as gift cards, a wire transfer, or cash. The Social Security Administration will never: Threaten to suspend your Social Security number or benefits or take other legal action unless you pay a fine or fee; Call demanding an immediate payment or require a specific means of payment, such as a retail gift card, wire transfer, or cash; Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment; or Demand secrecy in handling a Social Security-related problem. As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, protecting seniors from fraud and abuse is one of my top priorities, said Senator Collins. These Social Security imposters will stop at nothing to steal seniors' hard-earned savings. Raising awarenessparticularly among older Americans who are more likely to be targetedand ramping up the government's response are key to defeating this scam. Anyone receiving this type of call should hang up immediately and report it to my Committee's Fraud Hotline at 1-855-303-9470. Additional information on the Social Security scam, and other scams, is available in the Aging Committee's 2020 Fraud Book. Seniors can also learn more about the Social Security scam from the SSA Office of the Inspector General: https://oig.ssa.gov/scam and the Federal Trade Commission: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0037-imposter-scams. The Aging Committee has held 25 hearings in the past seven years to examine scams affecting older Americans, including a January 29th hearing highlighting the Social Security scam. Senator Collins also led a letter to the Social Security Administration, and Senators Collins and Casey led letters to the SSA Office of the Inspector General, Federal Trade Commission, and Elder Justice Coordinating Council to request information about how these agencies are addressing the Social Security scam and to urge agency leaders to take action to protect seniors. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-12-million-penobscot-community-health-care,"Senators Collins, King Announce $1.2 Million for Penobscot Community Health Care",2020-09-10,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) in Bangor has received $1.2 million to expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of rural telehealth services. This competitive funding was provided through the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Rural Telehealth Network GrantProgram. Community health centers are the backbone of Maine's rural health care system.During the COVID-19 pandemic, these medical providers are needed now more than ever,said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.This important funding will assist Penobscot Community Health Care by expanding rural telemedicine services in the area to ensure that all residents remain safe and healthy amid this public health crisis. We are absolutely thrilled and grateful for this generous support from HRSA, said Penobscot Community Health Care President and CEO Lori Dwyer. The parahealth program, based in Jackman, is groundbreaking in Maine and nationally and will ultimately provide this rural community with much greater access to high quality, emergent care. Across the country, rural communities are desperately in need of this access. This grant allows us to pioneer and provide an excellent model of care. This funding will assist PCHC with covering costs for the Critical Access Physician Extender Program in Jackman and the Critical Access Physician Consultation Pilot Program in Winterport to train paramedics to perform urgent care skills under the direction of an Emergency Department (ED) physician via telemedicine, respond to acute 911 calls with the local volunteer ambulance staff and provide in-home community paramedicine services, and pilot an ED physician consult program. Senator Collins, the Chairman of the Aging Committee, and Senator Kinghelped tosecure more than $1 million in March,nearly $13 million in April, and nearly $4 million this month for Maine health centers to address screening and testing needs, acquire medical supplies, and boost telehealth capacity in response to this coronavirus pandemic. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-pingree-announce-usda-allocation-530-million-us-lobstermen-and-fishermen,"Collins, King, & Pingree Announce USDA Allocation of $530 Million for U.S. Lobstermen and Fishermen Impacted by Retaliatory Tariffs, Urge Administration to Expand Program to Dealers and Processors",2020-09-09,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Following longstanding, bipartisan efforts by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Chellie Pingree, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)SecretarySonnyPerdueannounced today that the USDA will provide approximately $530 million to support U.S.fishermen in coastal states impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments.The funding will be provided through the Seafood Trade Relief Program and funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), administered by USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA). Senators Collins and King and Representative Pingree lauded the new funds but urged the Administration to expand the program to include the seafood industry's supply chain, especially dealers and processors, many of whom have seen their foreign business drastically impacted by the ongoing trade wars. The hardworking men and womenof Maine's fisherieshave been,and continue to be,unfairly harmed by China's retaliatory tariffs. We have strongly advocated for trade relief forall members ofour state's lobster industry, which supports the livelihoods of thousands of Mainers, and have repeatedly pushed for assistance to alleviate the economic challenges those employed in our seafood supply chain are experiencing,said Senators Collins and King and Representative Pingree in a joint statement.Today's announcement by USDA is welcome news for Maine harvesters, and weencourage them to apply quickly for this funding. However, this program does not currently include dealers and processors, many of whom have suffered severe economic harm and lost large shares of their foreign markets due to these retaliatory tariffs. Given how critical these entities are to the industry's supply chain and overall success, any effort to solve this problem must include aid for these businesses.In the days ahead, we will push to ensure this program provides support for the entire supply chain, and we will continue fightingto address the numerous challenges the industry faces. In August, Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Jared GoldenurgedUSDA to immediately act of President Trump'sJune 24 memorandumto provide relief funds to theentirelobster industry. Sincelast June, the Maine Delegation has worked together to offset thefinancial toll President Trump's trade war has had on the state'sseafood industry. Fishermen can sign-up for relief through the program from September 14, 2020 to December 14, 2020. Fishermen should apply through their local USDA Service Center. More information can be found here:www.farmers.gov/Seafood. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-19-million-support-casco-bay-lines-amid-covid-19,Senator Collins Announces $1.9 Million to Support Casco Bay Lines Amid COVID-19,2020-09-09,2020,2020-09,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 today that the Casco Bay Island Transit District (CBITD) has been awarded $1,900,000 to keep its ferries, facility, and equipment in service and in good working condition during the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant was awarded in addition to the $2.6 million in CARES Act funding that CBITD recently received to support operating, administrative, and preventive maintenance costs. This funding, which was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA), was provided through a section of the CARES Act Senator Collins authored that directed $48.5 billion to transportation and housing programs during the current public health and economic crisis. As the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I understand how vital investments in our nation's transportation infrastructure are to our communities. Casco Bay Lines provides an indispensable service to those who live and work in our island communities, providing passenger, freight, and postal services, and transporting students to school and people to their jobs, said Senator Collins. This critical funding will help ensure that Casco Bay Lines continues to provide safe and reliable ferry services to passengers during this ongoing economic and public health crisis. We are pleased to be receiving a portion of the CARES Act funds allocated to support transit in the Portland area, said Hank Berg, General Manager of CBITD. This second round of funding covers the period from July through December as we have continued to adapt our operations significantly in order to protect our crew and passengers while fulfilling our mission to provide service to the islands. We remain incredibly grateful for the Senator's ongoing support. As the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins has championed funding to improve Maine's infrastructure. In July, she helped to secure $3.2 million for Casco Bay Lines to purchase an electric-diesel hybrid propulsion system to power its soon-to-be constructed new vessel and $750,000 for research related to the design, construct, and operation of a new hybrid ferry and automated, rapid charging battery system. In 2016, Senator Collins announced a $2.5 million grant to fund Phase II of Casco Bay Lines' terminal renovation. In 2018, Senator Collins helped Casco Bay Lines obtain a $6 million grant from FTA's Passenger Ferry Grant Program for the construction of a $10 million replacement vessel for its ferry service to Peaks Island. In 2019, she announced a $3.4 million grant to support Phase III of Casco Bay Lines' project to renovate its terminal infrastructure. Operating since 1981, CBITD provides year-round ferry service to six inhabited islands in Casco Bay. In a typical year, CBITD's five ferries transport more than one million passengers, 30,000 vehicles, and 5,300 tons of freight annually. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-questions-nih-director-surgeon-general-covid-19-vaccine-efforts,Senator Collins Questions NIH Director & Surgeon General on COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts,2020-09-09,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE to watch Senator Collins' Q&A with Dr. Francis Collins. Click HERE for high-resolution video. Click HERE to watch Senator Collins' Q&A with Dr. Jerome Adams. Click HERE for high-resolution video. Washington, D.C. At a U.S. Senate Health Committee hearing this morning titled, Vaccines: Saving Lives, Ensuring Confidence, and Protecting Public Health, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Committee, questioned our nation's top public health officials about the federal government's ongoing efforts to research and develop vaccine candidates for COVID-19. During the hearing, Senator Collins brought up a recent conversation with leadership from Northern Light Health about their concern regarding equipment that may be needed to store a COVID-19 vaccine. They have already bought additional refrigeration units in order to store the flu vaccine and they are stocking up on that, but at least some of the vaccine presentations that are under study would require a sub-zero refrigeration. That's expensive, particularly for rural hospitals in a state like Maine that are already struggling financially, said Senator Collins. How can we ensure that we are not creating inequities and uneven access unless we're helping with the purchase of those very expensive refrigeration units? You are right that one of the vaccines, the one that's being produced by Pfizer, requires storage at minus 70 degrees Celsius and that is a challenge for a lot of refrigeration situations, but I think [Operation] Warp Speed is totally in the space here trying to figure out with the CDC how to make sure that that doesn't become a deterrent to distribution, replied Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). If that turns out to be the vaccine that Maine needs, then we want to be sure that's the vaccine that Maine can get, and that includes in rural areas, not just in the big cities. Operation Warp Speed (OWS) is a whole-of-government effort to reduce the time it takes to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, or vaccines, while maintaining rigorous protocols for safety and efficacy.OWS aims to have 300 million doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine available by early 2021. Congress has directed nearly $10 billion to this effort through supplemental funding, including the CARES Act. Senator Collins also noted that in Maine, the three groups of people who have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus have been frontline health care workers, black residents, and nursing home residents. Acknowledging these trends, Senator Collins asked Dr. Adams who is going to make the decision about who will receive a vaccine first. It's important for people to know that we aren't just making this decision in a room. We're working with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, with, again, professional organizations and other advisory groups, to come up with an answer to this incredibly difficult question of who gets the vaccine first, said Dr. Jerome Adams, the U.S. Surgeon General. There are no final recommendations yet, but the principles are that health care workers and frontline workers should be first in line because we know they're most likely to be exposed [to] and most likely to spread [COVID-19]. Behind them, it's looking at who is most vulnerable and using a scientifically-driven and data-driven process to determine who is most vulnerable and where that vaccine will have the biggest impact. In their testimonies, Dr. Collins and Dr. Adams provided an update on how the NIH is working with various federal agencies to develop, manufacture, and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, the public health leaders discussed the importance of getting vaccinated for the upcoming flu season and the recent decline in childhood immunization rates during the pandemic. Last month, Senator Collins and 25 of her colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to Senate leadership calling for $15.5 billion for the NIH to be included in the fourth COVID-19 relief package to avoid significant harm to the research pipeline in the U.S. In July, Senators Collins and Jack Reed (D-RI) led a group of 27 Senators in requesting that the next coronavirus relief package include at least $5.6 billion in federal funding to develop and support vaccine distribution. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-urges-usda-reverse-harmful-changes-made-organic-certification-reimbursement,Senator Collins Urges USDA to Reverse Harmful Changes Made to Organic Certification Reimbursement Program,2020-09-09,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. In a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, U.S. Senator Susan Collins urged the agency to quickly reverse the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) recent changes to the Organic Cost Share Program (OCCSP). This program provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). The FSA recently announced that they are revising the reimbursement rate to 50 percent of the certified organic operation's eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $500 per scope. The 2018 Farm Bill explicitly set reimbursement rates at 75 percent of the certified organic operation's eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $750 per scope through fiscal year (FY) 2023. The OCCSP has long been an invaluable tool in helping to reduce the barriers to entry into the organic marketplace, providing critical assistance to beginning and smaller-scale farmers, wrote Senator Collins. These unexpected adjustments to the reimbursement structure are particularly harmful to Maine's growing organic agriculture industry in the midst of a pandemic. Maine farmers utilize this cost share program at a high rate, and this shift in the reimbursement structure would cause Maine's organic producers to lose access to more than $122,000 in 2020 alone, on top of the COVID-19-related losses they have already experienced. Beth Schiller, Owner of Dandelion Spring Farm and Board President of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association said, ""As an organic farmer, I feel this is one of the few federal programs that really helps every certified organic operation. It's completely unacceptable for the USDA to reduce this program when Congress has already mandated the funding."" This change would also harm USDA-accredited Organic Certifiers, like the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), which have established payment plans with many clients and would be prevented from receiving the full amount of fees under this new structure. Organic Certifiers are essential to ensuring the integrity and success of the organic label, and weakening their standing would only threaten the sector. Click HERE to read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-van-hollen-lead-bipartisan-push-make-payroll-tax-deferral-optional-federal,"Senators Collins, Van Hollen Lead Bipartisan Push to Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional for Federal Employees and Service Members",2020-09-09,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led a letter that was signed by 21 of their colleaguesincluding Senator Angus King (I-ME)to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, urging them to make the payroll tax deferral outlined by President Trump last month optional for federal employees and service members. In their letter, the Senators also pushed for answers on how the Administration plans to implement this deferral. We urge you to let federal workers and uniformed service members choose whether to defer their payroll tax obligations under IRS Notice 2020-65, rather than forcing them to participate, the Senators wrote. While some federal employees may want to defer their payroll tax payments, unions representing federal workers have made clear that many others do not. IRS Notice 2020-65 does not answer many key questions, but KPMG concludes that it appears' to give employers the option to, Permit deferrals only at the employee's election.' The Senators highlighted several unanswered questions on the tax deferral, urging Secretary Mnuchin and Director Vought to clarify these key details before the deferral begins on or around September 18. In addition to Senators Collins, Van Hollen, and King, the letter was signed by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Click HERE to read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-delegation-announces-500000-frances-perkins-homestead-newcastle,"Maine Delegation Announces $500,000 for Frances Perkins Homestead in Newcastle",2020-09-08,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden announcedthat theFrances Perkins Center has received $500,000 through the National Park Service's Save America's Treasures Grant Program. This grant funding will allow the Center to preserve andimprovethe condition of the principal structures at the site of the Frances Perkins Homestead National Historic Landmark in Newcastle. The Frances PerkinsHomesteadis a fitting tribute to Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet,said the Maine Delegation in a joint statement. An influential figure during Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency and a driving force behind the creation of the New Deal, Social Security, anti-child labor laws, and more, Perkins left a lasting mark on American history. This important funding will enable the FrancesPerkins Center to preserve her home, allowing it to serve as an educational site year-round and helping to share her life and legacy with visitors from across the nation. The Frances Perkins Center is a nonprofit organization committed to honoring Frances Perkins, the U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933-1945. The Center is in the process of acquiring her ancestral homestead and transitioning the property to a year-round educational and community resource for Maine and the nation.This investment will enable the Center to preserve and renovate the Brick House, barn, and all buildings on the property so that they can be used to house exhibition, tour, and study facilities.Planned investments include the addition of restrooms, a multi-purpose program space, offices, archival storage, and a redesign of parking and visitor access. The Maine Delegationwrotealetterto the National Park Service in support of the grant application submitted by the Frances Perkins Center. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-nearly-4-million-maine-health-centers-combat-covid-19,"Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $4 Million for Maine Health Centers to Combat COVID-19",2020-09-08,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that 18 health centers throughout Maine have been awarded a total of $3,997,779 to address screening and testing needs, acquire medical supplies, and boost telehealth capacity in response tothecoronavirus pandemic.This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Community health centers are the backbone of Maine's rural health care system.During the COVID-19 pandemic, these medical providers are needed now more than ever,said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.This important funding will assist health centers throughout Maine as they continue to care for COVID-19 patients in their communities. The funding was allocated as follows: Eastport Health Carereceived $244,283. Pines Health Servicesreceived $230,250. Penobscot Community Health Centerreceived $250,250. St. Croix Regional Family Health Centerreceived $125,236. Regional Medical Centerreceived $212,876. Harrington Family Health Centerreceived $240,653. Islands Community Medical Servicesreceived $15,424. Maine Mobile Health Programreceived $188,431. Sebasticook Family Doctorsreceived $221,666. Health Access Networkreceived $237,903. York County Community Action Corporationreceived $46,123. Portland Community Health Centerreceived $263,597. Fish River Rural Healthreceived $329,780. Sacopee Valley Health Centerreceived $205,250. Bucksport Regional Health Centerreceived $286,233. Katahdin Valley Health Centerreceived $320,521. DFD Russell Medical Centerreceived $326,553. HealthReach Community Health Centerreceived $252,750. Senators Collins and Kinghelped tosecurenearly $13 million in Aprilandmore than $1 million in Marchfor Health Centers across the State of Maine. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-more-200000-isle-au-haut-solar-project,"Collins, King Announce More than $200,000 for Isle au Haut Solar Project",2020-09-04,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that Isle au Haut has received $211,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to install a solar power array, enabling the island to receive 100 percent of electricity from clean, renewable solar power. This funding was awarded through the USDA Rural Development's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Located seven miles off Stonington, Isle au Haut is a small, remote island in the Gulf of Maine,said Senators Collins and King. This funding will provide this rural island community with clean, renewable, locally generated power. In doing so, the island will be able to lower its electricity rates for years to come. Thisinvestmentwillallow Isle au Haut Electric Company to purchase and install a new 311 kW solar array to supply 100 percent of the island'selectricityneeds for the next 25 years,resulting in projected annual savings of approximately $88,000. Residents of Isle au Hautcurrentlypay an average of $0.32/kWh, as well as a $16 monthly meter fee. This is more than three times the national average for electricity. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/hermon-senator-collins-announces-more-400000-maine-snowmobile-clubs,"In Hermon, Senator Collins Announces More Than $400,000 for Maine Snowmobile Clubs",2020-09-04,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ClickHERE,HERE,HERE, andHEREfor high-resolution photos Hermon, ME This morning at the Penobscot Snowmobile Club in Hermon, U.S. Senator Susan Collins attended an announcement for a grant totaling $411,365 for five Maine snowmobile clubs to help them maintain trails in the winter. The funding, which was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, will be used to replace old trail groomers for: the Portage LakersSno-Mobile Club, the Red Arrow Snowmobile Club in St. Agatha, the Fort Kent Snowmobile Club, the Slippery Sliders in Roxbury, and theWassookeagSnowmobile Club in Dexter. Maine's snowmobile industry is a powerful economic engine for our state, contributing more than $600 million to Maine's economy and supporting small businesses and rural communities along the trail routes. This industry's success is made possible through the countless hours volunteers spend clearing and maintaining trails,said Senator Collins. This important funding will help to ensure that Maine's trails are ready for all snowmobilers to safely enjoy this winter. During the 2018-2019 snowmobiling season, nearly 60,000 snowmobiles were registered in Maine by residents, and more than 25,000 snowmobiles were registered by non-residents. That same season, snowmobiling generated $606 million in direct and indirect spending across many sectors of our state's economy. Snowmobile-related spending also directly supports 2,279 jobs in the state and indirectly supports an additional 1,060 jobs. The Maine Snowmobile Association (MSA) is an organization of approximately 28,000 members and 2,100 business partners supporting 289 affiliated nonprofit snowmobile clubs throughout the state. The volunteers of the MSA clubs work throughout the year to keep the snowmobile trail system open, marked, and groomed for everyone's enjoyment. The funding was allocated as follows: Portage LakersSno-Mobile Clubreceived $65,000 to replace an old trail groomer. Town of St. Agatha received $98,463 to purchase trail grooming equipment that will be leased to theRed Arrow Snowmobile Club. Town of Fort Kent received $99,900 to purchase trail grooming equipment to lease to theFort Kent Snowmobile Club. Slippery Slidersof Roxbury received 99,000 to replace an old trail groomer. WassookeagSnowmobile Clubin Dexter received $49,002 to replace an old trail groomer. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-local-businesses-downtown-skowhegan,Senator Collins Visits Local Businesses in Downtown Skowhegan,2020-09-04,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skowhegan, ME This afternoon, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited several small businesses in downtown Skowhegan with Main Street Skowhegan, a nonprofit focused on the ongoing revitalization of historic Skowhegan, to meet with small business owners, employees, and local residents. Stops included TheBankery, a custom cakes and pastries bake shop; Crooked Face Creamery, an artisanal cheese shop; and Maine Grains, which sells freshly-milled, organic, and heritage grains sourced from the Northeast. During my visit to Skowhegan today, I had wonderful discussions with members of the community.Small business owners and their employees have worked hard to keep their doors openduring the COVID-19 pandemicand safely provide local residents with food, supplies, and services,said Senator Collins. Downtown businesses are the focal point of communities across our state. It was great to hear that the Paycheck Protection Program is providing crucial support to strengthen these small businesses. The Paycheck Protection Program has been a tremendous success, providing more than $525 billion in forgivable loans to more than 5.2 million borrowers nationwide since its launch in early April. In Maine, more than 28,000 small businesses and self-employed individuals have received nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable loans, which has helped to support more than 255,000 jobs throughoutthe state. To support the hardest-hit small employers and their employees, Senators Collins and Marco Rubio (R-FL)introducedlegislation that would allow the hardest hit small businesses to receive a second PPP loan. Senator Collins has long been a champion of the Historic Tax Credit, a proven tool for revitalizing communities and catalyzing economic development in Maine and across the nation.In 2017, she successfully advocated for the retention of the HTC in the tax reform law.She has alsocosponsoredtheHistoric Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity(HTC-GO)Act, legislation that would expand the value of HTC, foster economic growth and urban renewal, and create jobs. Main Street Skowhegan is a member of Main Street Maine, whose membership also includes Augusta, Bath, Belfast, Biddeford, Brunswick, Gardiner, Rockland, Saco, and Westbrook. Since 2001, Maine's Main Street programs have provided crucial on-the-ground support for local businessesattracting more than $2 billion in private investment, creating 15,000 net new jobs and nearly 5,000 net new businesses. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-join-colleagues-bipartisan-push-expand-aviation-workforce-training,"Collins, King Join Colleagues in Bipartisan Push to Expand Aviation Workforce Training",2020-09-03,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging the agencies to fully implement two key aviation workforce programs that invest in and expand the development of the next generation of aircraft pilots and maintenance technicians. As the Senators note in their letter, these innovative grant programs created in the 2018 FAA Reauthorization bill and funded in the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Transportation Appropriations bill will help develop badly-needed workforce training in the aviation industry, helping the industry to partner with local governments, schools, and labor groups to bolster America's aviation workforce. In turn, this training will help close the current skills-gap preventing many Americans from accessing these good-paying jobs and spur future economic activity. Given the broad, bipartisan support for the grant programs on Capitol Hill, and among schools, industry, and labor, we are disappointed that they are not yet operating. Understanding that establishing a workforce grant program is new to the Federal Aviation Administration, we urge you to initiate them before the end of the current fiscal year,the Senators begin. They go on to highlight the importance of these two programs, noting,The grant program for pilot education will support the creation and delivery of curriculum designed to provide high school students with meaningful science, technology, engineering, math and aviation education. This program has the potential to grow our nation's pilot workforce by encouraging our nation's youth to become the next generation of commercial, general aviation, drone or military pilots. The grant program for aviation technicians will address the well-documented maintenance industry skills gap by encouraging and facilitating collaboration between schools, government, labor and industry to recruit and train the technical talent America's aerospace sector will require to keep the nation's aircraft operating safely and efficiently. The Senators stress that the pandemic and its recent economic impacts only heighten the need and urgency for these trainingprograms. They close the letter pressing,These important programs have been authorized for almost two years, and there is significant interest by stakeholders to establish them. With the end of fiscal year fast approaching, we strongly encourage you to get both grant programs up and running in the coming weeks. Senators Collins and King were both cosponsors of legislationto reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)for five years, which passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support in 2018. The legislation,authorized funding for all FAA programs, including FAA operations, research and development, aviation programs, extension of expiring authorities, airport planning and improvement, and noise compatibility and programs. Senator Collins, as the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee,secured full fundingfor these programs in the FY20 Transportation Appropriations bill. Last year, Senators King and James Inhofe (R-Okla.) introduced thePromoting the Launch of Aviation's Next Era (PLANE) Act of 2019. This bipartisan legislation would empower the voices of pilots, invest in airport infrastructure and ensure more opportunities for a trained aviation workforce. Senators Collins and King were joined in sending the letter by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Dan Sullivan (R-Ark.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The full text of the letter is availableHEREand below. +++ Dear Secretary Chao and Administrator Dickson: Section 625 of theFAA Reauthorization Act of 2018(P.L. 115-254) authorized two aviation workforce grant programs to facilitate the development of the next generation of aircraft pilots and maintenance technicians. Congress fully funded the programs for fiscal year (FY) 2020 in theFurther Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020(P.L. 116-94). Given the broad, bipartisan support for the grant programs on Capitol Hill, and among schools, industry, and labor, we are disappointed that they are not yet operating. Understanding that establishing a workforce grant program is new to the Federal Aviation Administration, we urge you to initiate them before the end of the current fiscal year. The grant program for pilot education will support the creation and delivery of curriculum designed to provide high school students with meaningful science, technology, engineering, math and aviation education. This program has the potential to grow our nation's pilot workforce by encouraging our nation's youth to become the next generation of commercial, general aviation, drone or military pilots. The grant program for aviation technicians will address the well-documented maintenance industry skills gap by encouraging and facilitating collaboration between schools, government, labor and industry to recruit and train the technical talent America's aerospace sector will require to keep the nation's aircraft operating safely and efficiently. The ongoing pandemic-related economic disruptions only heighten the urgency and need for these programs. Due in particular to the increased pace of aviation sector retirements in recent months, when industry business conditions return to pre-pandemic levels, the need for pilots and technicians will be more acute than before. By awarding grants now to encourage innovation in training and recruitment, the federal government can have a positive and lasting impact on the aviation workforce, as intended by Congress. These important programs have been authorized for almost two years, and there is significant interest by stakeholders to establish them. With the end of fiscal year fast approaching, we strongly encourage you to get both grant programs up and running in the coming weeks. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-2-million-maine-lobster-industry-research,Senator Collins Announces $2 Million for Maine Lobster Industry Research,2020-09-03,2020,2020-09,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 today that the Sea Grant American LobsterInitiative hasbeenawarded $2 million to support Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank American lobster research priorities.This is the second consecutive year that $2 million has been awarded for lobster research, after Senator Collins secured this funding in the FY2019 and FY2020 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriation Bills.The funded research will address critical gaps in knowledge about how American lobster is being impacted by environmental change in the Gulf of Maine. Maine's fishermen and women have been careful stewards of our natural resources for generations,said Senator Collins. This critical federal funding will build on their efforts to support the health of Maine's lobster fishery and help ensure its continued success. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight on behalf of our state's lobster industry to protect this iconic species and this important part of our state's economy."" Four of the nine research projects being funded will be conducted by Maine researchers and institutions, outlined below: Fishing in hot water: defining sentinel indicators of resilience in the American lobster fishery -University of MaineOrono The intent of this research is to develop sentinel indicators of resilience for the lobster industry that can be used to detect early signs of vulnerability among harvesters. In pursuit of this research, the authors will use peer-reviewed methods to develop and evaluate sentinel indicators and work closely with the lobster industry, managers, and the Lobster Regional Extension Program to solicit input and distribute results. Although the status of the lobster stock is closely monitored in the Gulf of Maine, no indicators currently exist to detect vulnerability among participants in the industry. Understanding vulnerability is vital to informing future management decisions and coastal community resilience. Incorporating changes in thermal habitat and growth to improve the assessment of American lobster stocks and spatial distribution in the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and Southern New England -University of MaineOrono The purpose of this project is to develop a modeling framework to assess and forecastspatio-temporal dynamics of American lobster in a changing ecosystem. A forecasting model will be built into the American lobster stock assessment framework that utilizes stock assessment output and projected thermal habitat to predict stock size and catch seasonally. This will allow for simulating multiple future climate scenarios and fishing mortalities in the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and southern New England. Additionally, this work will also enable the testing of theUMaineLobster Stock Assessment model under previously utilized spatial scales from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries commission to determine if the stock unit assumptions hold true using this stock assessment model. Throughout the testing and application process this work supports the implementation of a grounded outreach plan that will allow for method fluidity due to feedback from American lobster management agencies and stakeholders including state agencies, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, and the lobster industry. Testing and developing effective non-invasive female maturity assessment methods and protocols for the American lobster (Homarusamericanus) -Maine Department of Marine Resources, (Boothbay Harbor, ME) The Maine Department of Marine Resources began conducting female American lobster maturity studies via ovarian staging, widely recognized as the most accurate maturity assessment methodology, although time and resource-intensive, in 2018. The goal of the work proposed here is to leverage DMR's recent efforts in order to evaluate and develop two promising non-invasive maturity assessment methodologies and generate publicly accessible instructional materials that would allow for lobster maturity datasets to be easily updated in the future. The authors will build upon three years of female lobster maturity research by the DMR by analyzing samples collected through these recent works to test the effectiveness of these methodologies on females from across the Gulf of Maine. This research team represents a new collaboration of state agency researchers, members of the lobster industry, an industry trade association, and Canadian researchers all invested in the continued success of the American lobster fishery and eager to contribute to the National Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative. The research proposed here will provide insight into the most appropriate maturity assessment approach and provide long-term benefits to researchers who can utilize these methods to update size at maturity datasets regularly as conditions in the Gulf of Maine continue to change. Understanding and improving spatial distribution projections for lobster: Considering predation and building expert consensus -Gulf of Maine Research Institute In this project, the authors aim to address the limitations of lobster distribution models and strengthen stakeholders' trust in our ability to accurately quantify, project, explain, and apply lobster distribution and abundance models under future climate conditions. In sum, this research will provide information necessary to support forward-looking conservation and management strategies for the lobster fishery, ultimately enhancing the resilience and adaptation capacity of coastal communities that rely on lobster to support their livelihoods and maintain their cultural identity. FollowingSenator Collins' advocacy efforts, the European Union recently announced its removal of tariffs on live and frozen American lobster, helping to substantially boost sales of Maine lobster to European markets.The Senator 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, whichdistributed funding awards earlier this yearto advance our understanding of the American lobster and support a regional lobster extension program. In April, Senator Collinsjoined a bipartisan group of Senatorsin rejecting the Administration's proposal to eliminate funding for the National Sea Grant Program. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-arch-global-precision-arundel,Senator Collins Visits ARCH Global Precision in Arundel,2020-09-03,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ClickHERE,HERE,HERE, andHEREfor high-resolution photos Arundel, ME U.S.SenatorSusanCollins visited ARCH Global Precisionin Arundeltoday tosay hello to employees andtour their facility, including a 20,000-square-foot addition that is under construction and expected to be completed this fall. The highly skilled employees at ARCH Global Precision are doing impressive work to serve the medical, aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors,said Senator Collins. The complex machining being done at ARCH provides nearly 100 good-paying jobs to Mainers, and their vision, energy, and determination show that the future for manufacturing in Maine is bright. I will continue to support the important work being done at ARCH. ARCH Arundel specializes in high-precision complex machining of nickel alloys, stainless steel, and aluminum using multi-axis machining centers and ultra-high-precision grinding for the aerospace and defense market, along with the semiconductor and oil/gas industries. Once the new addition is complete this fall, the Arundel facility will encompass 60,000 square feet. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-nichols-portland,Senator Collins Visits Nichols Portland,2020-09-03,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ClickHERE,HERE,HERE, andHEREfor high-resolution photos South Portland, ME Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Nichols Portland, a global manufacturer of powdered metal and steel components and complete pump assemblies, to tour the facility and speak with employees. Nichols became the world's first mass manufacturer of gerotor pumps in the late 1920s, and it is the world's largest single manufacturer of gerotors today. Gerotors and gerotor pumps are used in everything from cars to a wide range of industrial applications. In September 2019, Nichols Portland opened a new facility for the Pump Division. The newly renovated 20,000 square-foot facility in South Portland houses an extensive laboratory for hydraulic testing, niche pump manufacturing, and office space for the Pump Division. Over the past century, Nichols Portland has grown from a small machine shop to the world's largest producer of gerotors thanks to the work ethic, determination, and pioneering spirit of its employees. These pumps, which are used in automobiles and a wide range of industrial applications, power our economy,said Senator Collins. The coronavirus pandemic has caused great disruption to our society, especially to Maine's small businesses, which make up nearly 60 percent of our state's workforce. The Paycheck Protection Program I co-authored has supported more than 300 jobs at Nichols and has helped keep this Maine manufacturer strong. I enjoyed speaking with employees at Nichols' new state-of-the art facility this morning. Nichols received a forgivable loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was co-authored by Senator Collins. Without the PPP, it was very likely that the company that employs approximately 325 people located in two facilities would have had to reduce its workforce by nearly half. Since its launch in early April, more than 28,000 Maine small businesses and self-employed individuals have received nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable loans, which helping to support approximately 240,000 jobs throughout the state. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-volk-packaging-biddeford,Senator Collins Visits Volk Packaging in Biddeford,2020-09-03,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ClickHERE,HERE,HERE, andHEREfor high resolution photos Biddeford, ME Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Volk Packaging, a third-generation corrugated box manufacturer, to tour their facility and speak with employees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has been deemed a federally designated essential manufacturer and supplies corrugated shipping containers to food and medical suppliers. During the tour, Senator Collins also saw Volk's Heroes Wall, which honors men and women who have served or are currently serving in our country's armed forces. Safely reopening our communities requires an increase ofpersonal protective equipment and other medical supplies, and Maine businesses are leading the way.I commended the dedicated workers at Volk Packaging today, who are helping businessesdistribute supplies made right here in Maine that are needed to fight COVID-19,said Senator Collins.Volk's employees define the Maine spirit of innovation and resilience, and I am pleased that the Paycheck Protection Program I co-authored helped support the jobs of these hardworking Mainers. Volk Packaging received a forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan to help the business stay afloat and continue paying its employees during the pandemic.Many of the businesses Volk Packaging serves have also received forgivable PPP loans. Since its launch in early April, more than 28,000 Maine small businesses and self-employed individuals have received nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable PPP loans, helping to supportmore than 250,000jobs throughout the state. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bipartisan-group-calling-defense-department-reinstate-funding-stars,Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Calling on Defense Department to Reinstate Funding for Stars & Stripes Newspaper,2020-09-02,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and a bipartisan group of their colleagues incalling on the Department of Defenseto reinstate funding for theStars and Stripesnewspaper. The Department of Defense currently plans to stop publishing the newspaper at the end of this month and dissolve the organization by January 31, 2021. The $15.5 million currently allocated for the publication ofStars and Stripesis only a tiny fraction of your Department's annual budget, and cutting it would have a significantly negative impact on military families and a negligible impact on the Department's bottom line,theSenators wrote. Stars and Stripesis a historically significant publication in our country. It originated during the Civil War and has been published continuously since World War II to provide independent, nonpartisan, and award-winning journalism to more than 1.4 million readers among our active duty forces, veterans, civilians, and their families. Stars and Stripesis an essential part of our nation's freedom of the press that serves the very population charged with defending that freedom,the Senatorscontinued. Therefore, we respectfully request that you rescind your decision to discontinue support forStars and Stripesand that you reinstate the funding necessary for it to continue operations. Along with Senators Collins and Feinstein, the letter was signed by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Boozman (R-AR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Patty Murray (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Doug Jones (D-AL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). ClickHEREto read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-starc-systems-brunswick,Senator Collins Visits STARC Systems in Brunswick,2020-09-02,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Brunswick, ME This afternoon,U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited STARC Systems to tour their manufacturingfacility at Brunswick Landing and speak with employees. STARC's major productsincludemodular reusable containment walls that can create negative air pressure isolation rooms,which areprimarily used in hospitals toisolate patients or tokeep dust and debris from spreading during renovations. Starting with just two employees working out of a garage to now operating out of an impressive facility at Brunswick Landing with 70 employees, STARC Systems is a shining example of a Maine success story,said Senator Collins. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, STARC's dedicated workforcehas continued to manufacture state-of-the-art containment systems for health care facilities across the country. These pressurized barriers help keep patients and medical professionals safe,Senator Collins continued.I am pleased that STARC received a forgivable PPP loan to help pay their employees.Their hard work and innovation are making a real difference, and I will continue to support them every step of the way. STARC received a forgivable loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Senator Collinsco-authoredthe PPP to help small employersstay afloat andcontinue topaytheir workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its launch in early April, more than 28,000 Maine small businesses and self-employed individuals received nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable loans, supporting approximately 240,000 jobs throughout the state. Recognizing the importance of STARC's work, Senator Collins authored an amendment to the Senate's fiscal year 2021 NDAA requiring the Defense Health Agency to conduct a study on military requirements for commercial off-the-shelf negative air pressure room containment systems to address the overwhelming demand from civilian hospitals and federal agencies. Like other companies, STARC was unable to satisfy immediate demand for these systems resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Collins' amendment aims to ensure the Department of Defense reviews its requirements for negative air pressure room containment systems so that it can plan to have the appropriate number of systems already on-hand in advance of potential future pandemics or similar emergencies. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/usda-extends-school-meal-program-flexibilities-following-bipartisan-push-led-senator,USDA Extends School Meal Program Flexibilities Following Bipartisan Push Led by Senator Collins,2020-09-02,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins applauded theU.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA)decision this week toextendchild nutritionprogram flexibilities,including access to free meals,through the end of December, regardless of whether in-school learning is available.Senator Collins called for this extension earlier this month. I applaud the USDA's decision to extendseveralcriticalwaiversthrough the end of December for studentsin Maine and throughout the country,said Senator Collins. This important extension will ensure children continue to have access tofree meals, regardless ofwhether they are learning in the classroom or virtually. Last month, Senator Collins, along with 19 of her colleagues,sent a letterto USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to continue utilizing existing flexibilities that have allowed students to access much needed schoolmealsthroughout the COVID-19 pandemic.Additionally, Senators Collins and Maggie Hassan (D-NH)led a letterthat was signed by 34 of their colleaguesin urging theUSDAto continuetheseflexibilitiesthroughout the 2020-2021 school year. In March, all four members of Maine's Congressional DelegationwroteUSDAin support ofprovidingflexibility around eligibility for free meals that wascritical to maintaining children's access tonutritious foodswhen schools closed last spring.In July, the Delegationwrote USDA Secretary Perdueagain to express their full support for a request by the Maine Department of Education for a waiver extension, which was successfully extended through the end of the summer. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-attends-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-porvair-filtration-group-caribou,Senator Collins Attends Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Porvair Filtration Group in Caribou,2020-09-01,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for high resolution photos Caribou, MEU.S. Senator Susan Collins participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Porvair Filtration Group Caribou Division to celebrate the recent renovations funded in part througha $180,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). This funding, which was secured with support from the City of Caribou, was used to remodel an attached building with new exterior siding, new and up-to-code electrical wiring and plumbing; to purchase a new oven and titanium oxide furnace to improve the manufacturing process; and to rebuild new offices and the Collins Conference Room, which is named after Senator Collins. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by Porvair Filtration employees, Caribou City Staff and Council Members, Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce Staff and Board Members, and other local leaders. These facility and equipment upgrades demonstrate that Porvair is a global organization with a strong commitment to its host communities, here in Caribou and around the world. The new manufacturing and engineering jobs this project creates will provide opportunity for the people of Aroostook County, said Senator Collins. By rapidly shifting production to manufacture vital components for ventilators, clinical analyzers, and respirators, Porvair's Caribou Division is on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Growing up in Caribou, I saw every day the power of people working together. This project is a shining example of that spirit, and I congratulate Porvair's Caribou Division and this community, Senator Collins continued. As the Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that funds the CDBG program, Senator Collins successfully championed efforts to increase federal funding for this valuable program to more than $3.4 billion. Porvair supplies filtration equipment for the aerospace, nuclear, energy, process and bioscience industries. The Caribou facility has nearly 50 employees that specialize in the sintering of metal powder of stainless steel, bronze, and exotic alloys into discs, washers, cups, and tubes.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-columbia-forest-products-presque-isle,Senator Collins Visits Columbia Forest Products in Presque Isle,2020-09-01,2020,2020-09,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for high-resolution photos Presque Isle, ME This morning, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Columbia Forest Products (CFP) in Presque Isle to tour the mill and speak with employees. I love seeing how things are made. The dedicated men and women at Columbia Forest Products in Presque Isle make the beautiful hardwood plywood and veneer that's used in products like cabinetry and furniture, said Senator Collins. The forest products industry is vital to our state, and I will continue to work hard every day to support this important industry and its highly-skilled workforce. Last month, Senator Collins joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce expressing strong support for the American hardwood plywood industry. In the letter, the Senators encouraged the Department of Commerce's continued attention to recent actions by China to upset the level playing field for domestic producers like CFP. Founded in 1957, CFP is the largest manufacturer of hardwood veneer and hardwood plywood in North America with 12 total facilities. Their products are used to create high-quality cabinetry, fine furniture, architectural millwork, and commercial fixtures. CFP Presque Isle currently has 157 employees and is an employee-owned company.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-more-4-million-maine-airports,Senator Collins Announces More Than $4 Million for Maine Airports,2020-08-31,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom Senator Collins Announces More Than $4 Million for Maine Airports Posted Mon, 08/31/2020 - 08:09 Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that two Maine airports have received $4,113,761forinfrastructure improvements. Just likeairports around the world, Maineairports are struggling to make ends meet given the sharp downturn in passenger traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,said Senator Collins.This investment in Northern Aroostook and Lincoln RegionalAirports' infrastructure will help promote job creation while improving the safety and efficiency of operations. The funding was allocated as follows: Northern Aroostook Regional Airportreceived $1,998,796 to construct a taxiway and reconstruct the airport's apron. Lincoln Regionalreceived $2,114,965 to reconstruct the runway and remove obstructions. This fifth round of fiscalyear (FY) 2020 funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Airport Improvement Program (AIP).Senator Collins was instrumental in securing $3.75 billion for AIP, including $400 million in supplemental AIP grants, in theFY2020Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill that wassigned into lawin December. Senator Collins alsoco-authored a section of theCARES Actthat directed $48.5 billion to support transportation and housing programs. The CARES Act allows the Federal Aviation Administration to eliminate the local share forairports, which are currently facing financial challenges. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-roundtable-discussion-aroostook-county-action-program,Senator Collins Joins Roundtable Discussion with Aroostook County Action Program,2020-08-31,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Houlton, ME U.S. Senator Susan Collins participated in a roundtable discussion at the Aroostook County Action Program's (ACAP) Houlton Center to highlight local success stories and discuss the innovative two-generation, or whole family, approach to alleviating poverty that Senator Collins has advocated for at the federal level. ParticipantsincludedElaine Zimmerman, the Region 1 Administrator for the Administration of Children and Families,ACAPleadership and Whole Family Approach Program participants, and representatives from several agencies that are involved with two-gen efforts in Maine. Following the open discussion, Senator Collins participated in a Q&A and provided remarks. Some participants joined virtually. For nearly half a century,ACAPhas served as a trusted community resource and helped Aroostook County residents achieve greater economic independence by connecting them with services they need to thrive,said Senator Collins. The current public health and economic crisis underscores the need to lift up struggling families and provide a brighter future for children in Maine and throughout the country. The bipartisanTwo-Generation Economic Empowerment Actthat I co-authored would expand the innovative whole family approach at the federal level, supporting the outstanding efforts of community organizations likeACAP. Earlier this year, Senators Collins and Martin Heinrich (D-NM)introducedtheTwo-Generation Economic Empowerment Act, a bipartisan bill to align and link existing systems and funding streams to target both parents and children with support aimed at increasing economic security, educational success, social capital, and the health and wellbeing of whole families. In May, the Senators called for passage of their bill after areportfrom the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that more coordination needs to be done at a national level to assist state and localities in implementing thetwo-generation approach. The Aroostook County Action Program provides the people of Aroostook with services and resources that help individuals and their families achieve greater economic independence.ACAP's Whole Family Approach Program combines elements from child-focused and parent-focused coaching to give families greater access to early childhood care, peer support, health services, post-secondary education and employment, and affordable housing and transportation. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-nearly-75-million-combat-maine%E2%80%99s-opioid-crisis,"Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $7.5 Million to Combat Maines Opioid Crisis",2020-08-31,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that 10 Maine organizations have received a total of $7,455,970 to help combat the opioid crisis. The investments will enable Maine community health centers, rural organizations, and hospitals to establish and expand access to integrated substance use disorder and mental health services. The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The opioid crisis is devastating families and communities acrossourstate, claiming the life of nearly one Mainer per day on average last year,said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This important funding will give Mainers who are struggling with substance use disorders access to the treatment programs they need to achieve recovery and healing. The funding was allocated as follows: York Hospitalreceived $125,000 throughthe Office of National Drug Control Policy's(ONDCP) Drug Free Communities (DFC) Grant Program. Healthy Acadiareceived $125,000 through the DFC Grant Program. The City of Portlandhas received $125,000 through the DFC Grant Program. The BangorSchool Departmentreceived $125,000 through the DFC Grant Program. Redington-Fairview General Hospitalreceived $125,000 through the DFC Grant Program. Maine General Medical Centerreceived $125,000 through the DFC Grant Program. Aroostook Mental HealthCenterreceived $200,000 through the Rural Communities Opioid Response Grant Program (RCORP). Maine HHSreceived $6,255,970 through the State Opioid Response(SOR)Grant Program. Wabanaki Health and Wellnessreceived $250,000 through the Tribal Opioid Response(TOR)Grant Program to provide medical-assisted treatment services to tribal communities. Aroostook Micmac Councilreceived $125,000 through theTORGrant Program. Created by theDrug-Free Communities Act of 1997, DFC spearheads efforts to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance abuse. The program provides grants to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use. The RCORP enhances and expands service delivery for substance use and opioid use disorders in rural communities. The program aims to implement prevention, treatment, and recovery activities tailored to communities' unique needs. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response (SOR) and Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grant programs help states and tribes provide community-level resources for people in need of prevention, treatment, and recovery support services. Earlier this month, Senators Collins and Kingannouncedthat medical organizations in Brewer, Portland, Skowhegan, and Bangor have received a total of $4 million to combat substance and opioid use disorders. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-dni%E2%80%99s-decision-stop-briefing-intelligence-committees-election,Senator Collins Statement on DNIs Decision to Stop Briefing Intelligence Committees on Election Security,2020-08-29,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom Senator Collins' Statement on DNI's Decision to Stop Briefing Intelligence Committees on Election Security Posted Sat, 08/29/2020 - 05:46 Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released this statement following the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's decision that it will no longer brief the Senate and House Intelligence Committees on election security issues: It is unacceptable for the DNI to refuse to brief the Intelligence Committees on election security, and it runs counter to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's public commitment on August 7thto provide classified election threat updates.The DNI must remain a committed partner to safeguard our elections. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-attends-dedication-ceremony-acadia-national-cemetery-jonesboro,Senator Collins Attends Dedication Ceremony for Acadia National Cemetery in Jonesboro,2020-08-29,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ClickHERE,HERE, andHEREfor high-resolution photos Jonesboro, ME Today,U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at the Dedication Ceremony for theAcadiaNational Cemetery in Jonesboro. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary RobertWilkiewas also in attendance and provided remarks. I am honored to join you to dedicate this final resting place for our heroes,said Senator Collins. We who enjoy the blessing of freedom are profoundly grateful to those who have given so much to defend it.Forsubsequent generations, all who come to this hallowed ground will look down the rows of headstones, columbaria, flowers, and flags, and see our history.It is a history written by ordinary men and women who answered the call to defend liberty. It is a history cherished by a people seeking peace. ""This new cemetery nestled here in the balsam fir forests of Down East' Maine is an everlasting shrine to our Veterans,""said VA SecretaryWilkie.""It reminds us every day of the sacrifices that generations of men and women from this hardy, practical and intensely patriotic corner of the nation have made for all of us."" Maine is home to more than 114,000 veterans, the second-highest percentage in the nation. Nearly 26,000 of those patriots live within 75 miles of the new 6.2-acre VA national cemetery. TheAcadiaNational Cemetery is the second VA national cemetery in Maine, and the first to have space for new interments in nearly six decades. At full capacity, the cemetery will be able to accommodate approximately 7,000 interments. Worcester Holdings LLC, associated with Wreaths Across America, donated the land in 2017. Senator Collins, along witha group ofher colleagues, recentlyintroducedtheVeteran Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020to improve benefits forveteransin the areas of education, pensions, burials, and survivor benefits, among others. The legislation includes elementsof the bipartisanVeteran Pension Protection Act, legislation Senator Collinco-authoredthat would require the Department ofVeteransAffairs to systematically track victims, scammers, and trends to proactively protectveteransand survivors across the country from predatory pension poachers. Additionally, Senator Collins is arecipient of the Distinguished Citizen Awardfrom the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for her work to support veterans. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-more-200000-maine-dairy-and-grain-industries,"Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $200,000 for Maine Dairy and Grain Industries",2020-08-28,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $200,000 for Maine Dairy and Grain Industries This funding will increase sustainability and profitability of farms and ranches Posted Fri, 08/28/2020 - 09:28 Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that Atlantic Corporation in Waterville and Northern Spent Grains in Yarmouthhave been awarded a total of$206,000 to advance food science and nutrition through early stage research and development projects. This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. Small businesses are the backbone of Maine's economy, and helping them to reach their growth potential strengthensour communitiesand creates new employment opportunities, particularly inruralareas of our state,said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We commend the USDA for recognizing the importance of fostering promising business ventures and innovation that support Maine jobs. The fundingwasallocated as follows: Atlantic Corporationin Watervillewas awarded$106,000 to develop a dairy manufacturing and processing solutions tool for farms and value-added producers. Northern Spent Grainsin Yarmouthwas awarded$100,000 to produce low-calorie, high-protein snacks from brewers' spent grains. The SBIR Program encourages the growth of domestic small businesses by offering competitively awarded grants to support high-quality research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture. These small business ventures are recognized as having the potential for larger scale commercialization as well as benefits to the community at large. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-calls-additional-agricultural-assistance-next-covid-19-relief-package,Senator Collins Calls for Additional Agricultural Assistance in Next COVID-19 Relief Package,2020-08-27,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined a group of colleagues in urging Senate Leadership to support the inclusion of additional assistance forAmerica'sagriculturein future coronavirus response legislation. As you are aware, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted every sector of the U.S. economy, and agriculture is no exception,wrote the Senators. Thanks to your leadership, the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act includes $20 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide relief to producers facing challenges caused by COVID-19. These funds would give USDA the resources to assist producers and processors whose operations have been threatened by the economic impact of the pandemic,the Senators continued. As Congress continues deliberations on legislation to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, we must support the men and women that provide food, fuel and fiber for our nation. Senator Collins has helped to lead bipartisan efforts in Congress to direct more support to farmers. Recently, she announced that, following her advocacy, Maine farmers have receivedmore than $22 million in fundingthus farthrough the CARES Act's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program(CFAP). Additionally, sheco-signed a series of lettersto the USDA, urging Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize assistance to Maine farmers, including those in the dairy, potato, and blueberry industries. Senator Collins has also worked to ensure that Maine benefitsfrom the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, a componentof CFAP, thatis supporting farmers with up to $3 billion in purchases of fresh produce, dairy, and meat and distributing these products to low-income Americans in need.After noMaine distributors were awarded a contract in the first tranche of funding, the Maine Delegationsuccessfully urgedUSDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to rectify the program's shortcomings,resulting in contracts of $2.14 million and $1.35 million being awarded to the Maine Farmers Exchange MFX) and Native Maine Produce and Specialty Foods, respectively. Senator Collins participated in a Food Box distribution event in Van Buren facilitated by MFX, and helped assemble Food Boxes at Native Maine's Westbrook facility. In addition to Senator Collins, the letter was signed by Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Pat Roberts (R-KS), John Boozman (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Michael Rounds (R-SD). ClickHEREto read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-urges-navy-review-staffing-levels-federal-firefighters-including-pnsy,"Senator Collins Urges Navy to Review Staffing Levels for Federal Firefighters, Including at PNSY",2020-08-27,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins wrote to U.S. Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite andChief of Naval OperationsAdmiral MichaelGildayregarding current minimum staffing levels for federal firefighters at Navy installations in light of the recent fire aboard the USSBonhommeRichard, which now appears to be the worst in-port disaster since the USS Miami fire at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) just eight years ago. As the Navy investigates theBonhommeRichard incident, I ask that you carefully review the risks and impacts of reduced staffing at federal fire departments. In the case of the USS Miami, the 2012 fire caused $700 million in damage and ultimately resulted in the Navy scrapping the entire Los-Angeles-class submarine rather than attempting to repair it,said Senator Collins. Certainly, in many cases minimal costs of risk reduction or full staffing can help to prevent and contain potentially catastrophic fires. Of note, following the USSMiamifire at PNSY, minimum fire department staffing at the shipyard was increased from 13 to 15 on-duty personnel. As is the case with many federal fire departments, the department at PNSY often serves as first responders within the local area, protecting both the Navy's submarines and property but also supporting Kittery and other nearby towns,Senator Collins continued. As a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I know the importance of firefighters in Maine and have worked to ensure they have all of the support they need to protect our communities. This has become all the more important as Maine and the rest of the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, commanding officers and Navy Region Fire chiefs were directed to take actions to reduce labor costs of the fire and emergency services program, to include reduced staffing of fire departments based on assessments of risk. For PNSY in Maine, this has meant that the fire department has operated with 13 personnel during off-peak times, rather than the typical 15 firefighters on-duty. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and a Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Senator Collins has been a longstanding advocate for Maine's first responders, fighting hard toensure they have the resources and support necessary to protect lives and property. Sherecently helped to secure more than $1.3 millionfor Maine Fire Departments to upgrade personal protective equipment and expand personnel amid COVID-19.In May, Senator Collins led aletterwith Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) urging congressional leaders to take additional actions in support of first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as bolstering funding and permitting hazard pay for federal firefighters. Senator Collins' alsoledefforts in April to quickly make available $100 million in emergency funding from the CARES Act for firefighters to purchase personal protective equipment. ClickHEREto read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-104-million-nearly-100-maine-nursing-homes,"Senators Collins, King Announce $10.4 Million for Nearly 100 Maine Nursing Homes",2020-08-27,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. SenatorsSusan Collinsand Angus Kingannounced that 93 skilled nursing facilities and nursing homesin Mainehave been awarded a total of $10,421,700 to support increased testing, staffing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) needs. Thefundingannounced todayis a targeted distribution from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Provider Relief Fund, which is funded through $175 billion includedin the bipartisan CARES Act and thePaycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. In the midst of this ongoing public health and economic crisis, it is crucial that our seniors and all of those who make up our nursing home communities remainsupported and protected,said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. Thisadditionalfunding will help protect the health of nursing homeresidents, prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19, and support our health care providers on the front lines. Today's announcement of $2.5 billion in additional funding for nursing homes across the country builds on the $4.9 billion that was previously distributed from the HHS Provider Relief Fund to help these facilities. In May, Senators Collins and King announced that Maine nursing homes would receive a total of $17.9 million to help protect the health of residents and staff and support nursing homes struggling with significant expenses or lost revenue due to COVID-19. To date, Maine health care providers have received more than $400 million in relief from the HHS Provider Relief Fund. To further support nursing homes,HHS also announced todaythe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will be partnering with America's nursing homes to create the National Nursing Home COVID Action Network. Through the Network, AHRQ will offer training, and mentorship to the approximately 15,400 nursing homes across the country to supplement efforts aimed at protecting residents and staff. AstheChairman of the Aging Committee, Senator Collins has been a tireless advocate for seniorsin Maine andacross the nation. In March, Senator Collinsled a letterthat was signed by 12 members of the Aging Committee urgingHHSto take action to protect seniors from the virus. In May, Senator CollinschairedCongress' first oversight hearing on COVID-19's devastating impact on seniors, particularly those that reside in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes.In addition, shechaireda hearing on combatting social isolation and loneliness in seniors during the pandemic and most recently held a hearing to examine COVID-19's racial health disparities. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-bipartisan-colleagues-call-administration-condemn-rohingya-genocide-provide,"Senator Collins, Bipartisan Colleagues Call on Administration to Condemn Rohingya Genocide, Provide Additional Support",2020-08-26,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom ClickHEREto read Senator Collins' letter to Secretary Ross Read More... ClickHEREto read Senators Collins andSinema'sletter. Read More... ClickHEREto read the Delegation's letter Read More... Read More... Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Aging Committee, announced today that Social Security beneficiaries will not be required to file a tax return in order to receive a rebate check under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Senator Collins strongly supported the policyreleasedby the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service that will make it easier for many seniors to obtain these targeted relief funds. Read More... Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the U.S. Read More... Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Aging Committee, joined a bipartisan group of 32 Senators in urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to protect seniors from coronavirus-related scams. In response to the recent increase in these scams, the letter to FTC Chairman Joseph Simons calls on the FTC to better inform seniors about coronavirus scams and assist victims in understanding their recourse options to ensure that seniors are protected from those attempting to financially exploit them during the pandemic. Read More... UPDATE: Information for Small Businesses about the Payment Protection Program from the U.S. Treasury click HERE. (4/3/2020) Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Treasury released new information that will allow lenders to begin accepting applications and disbursing loans to assist small employers that have been harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More... Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, announced thatfive Maine tribal communities have been awardeda total of$1,337,985through the U.S. Read More... Washington, D.C.As leaders of the Small Business Task Force, U.S. Senators Susan Collins(R-ME), Marco Rubio(R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), andJeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sent alettertoJovitaCarranza, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and StevenMnuchin, Secretary of the U.S. Read More... Pages",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-feinstein-urge-vote-legislation-establish-smithsonian-women%E2%80%99s-history-0,"Senators Collins, Feinstein Urge Vote on Legislation to Establish Smithsonian Womens History Museum",2020-08-26,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. On the centennial anniversary ofthe19thAmendment being added to the Constitution, finally giving women the right to vote, U.S. Senators Susan Collins(R-ME)and Dianne Feinstein(D-CA)urged the Senate to pass their legislation that would establish a Smithsonian Women's History Museum on the National Mall. Women across the country made countless sacrifices and worked tirelessly tosecure the right to vote,said Senator Collins. Though there is more work to be done,thiscentennial celebration recognizes the women who fought for equal voting rights.Congress should preserve and honor the legacies of these courageous women by passing the bill Senators Feinstein and I introduced to create a Smithsonian Women's History Museum. When I was first elected to the Senate in 1992, there were only two women serving in the Senate,said Senator Feinstein. That election was dubbed the Year of the Woman' because four women senators were elected. Today that number stands at 26, and I hope it's not too long before we see 50 or more.Our work is not done. As women senators we must honor the accomplishments of the trailblazers who came before us and continue pushing for equal rights for future generations. Change will come if we continue to keep pushing. Tomark theoccasion,theWomen's Suffrage Centennial Commission sent aletterto Senate leadership in support of theSmithsonian American Women's Museum Act. In March, SenatorsCollins and Feinsteinsent aletterto Senate leadership, urging them to bring up thelegislation for consideration by the full Senate as soon as possible. In addition, theSenatorsintroduced a bipartisan resolution, cosponsored by all of their female colleagues and passed in July, that designated August 2020 as National Women's Suffrage Month to commemorate the 100thanniversary of the ratification of the 19thAmendment. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/more-22-million-covid-19-financial-relief-has-been-awarded-maine-farmers,More Than $22 Million in COVID-19 Financial Relief has been Awarded to Maine Farmers,2020-08-25,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that Maine farmers have been awarded a total of$22,190,403 to dateto help offset the financial harm they have experienced due to COVID-19. The funding is provided through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), created through the CARES Act, which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America's farmers. The supply chain disruptions and restaurant closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have placed increasing financial pressure on Maine's rural farming communities, from newly founded farms to operations that have been passed down from generation to generation,said Senator Collins.These direct payments, which I worked to include in the CARES Act, will help provide some relief.During this difficult time, I will continue to advocate for Mainefarmers. In addition to facilitating the Farmers to Families Food Box program, CFAPis providing vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face significant additionalmarketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities. Farmers will receive direct support from two funding sources: The first is $9.5 billion in appropriated funding provided in the CARES Act, which will compensatefarmers for losses due to price declines that occurred between mid-January 2020 and mid-April 2020 and provides support for specialty crops. The second is the Commodity Credit Corporation, which will compensate producers for $6.5 billion in losses due to ongoing market disruptions. To date, the funding has been allocated as follows: Dairy farmershave been awarded $8,444,929. Livestock farmershave been awarded $1,202,055. Non-Specialty crop farmershave been awarded $666,286. Specialty crop farmershave been awarded $11,877,133. The USDA is continuing to accept applications from farmers through August 28.More information aboutCFAPand the application process can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) resource page:Farmers.gov/cfap. +++ Following a push by Maine's Congressional Delegation and Governor Janet Mills, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)announcedearlier this month that maple syrup producersare now eligible for CFAP's direct financial relief. In June, Senator Collins, along with and Senator King and RepresentativesPingreeand Golden, senta letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue (PDF)in support ofmaplesyrupproducers' eligibility for direct relief from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). In addition to maple syrup producers, aquaculture farmers were also made eligible for CFAP payments after Sen. Collins and the delegation urged USDA to include them in the program. In April, Sen. Collins and the delegation sent aletterto Sec. Perdue in support of aquaculture farmers' eligibility for this direct relief. Last month, Senator Collins visited Van Buren, where 760 food boxes through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program were distributed to members of the community.The food boxes, which contained products from Maine farmers, were purchased through a$2.14 million contractrecently awarded to Maine Farmers Exchange (MFX)to participate in the program. Additionally, Senator Collins recently visited Native Maine Produce and Specialty Foodsto meet with managers and employees andcelebratea $1.35 million contract the wholesale food distributor was recently awardedto distribute 45,000 food boxes, each holding 25 pounds of produce, to Maine food banks. Senator Collins has helped to lead bipartisan efforts in Congress to direct more support to farmers. Sheco-signed a series of lettersto the USDA, urging Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize assistance to Maine farmers, including those in the dairy, potato, and blueberry industries. Senator Collins and RepresentativePingreealsowrote to USDAto emphasize the need to provide assistance directly to growers as well as support local producers and their supply chains, andshe joinedSenators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in leading a group of bipartisan Senators in urging the USDA to target COVID-19 relief provisions to reach local farmers. In aletterto the USDA, Senator Collins elevated the concerns and questions raised by representatives of the potato industry, including the Maine Potato Board, who are facing an unprecedented crisis due to the economic impact of COVID-19. Furthermore, Senator Collins offered recommendations for theCFAPthat would address the supply backlogand called for direct relief for potato growers. In May, Senators Collins, King, and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)introduced the Farming Support to States Act, a bipartisan bill to provide states access to immediate, flexible funding to aid in responding to urgent and emerging issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in America's agriculture economy and food supply chain. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-attends-disabled-american-veterans%E2%80%99-100th-anniversary-celebration-bangor,Senator Collins Attends Disabled American Veterans 100th Anniversary Celebration in Bangor,2020-08-25,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ClickHERE,HERE,HERE, andHEREfor high-resolution photos Bangor, ME U.S. Senator Susan Collins commemorated the Disabled American Veterans' (DAV) centennial anniversary at a celebration at the Cole Land Transportation Museum. The event, which was hosted by DAV Maine Chapter 6, included a small parade to honor RichardProulx, a 92-year-old veteran who has been a DAV member for 72 years. During the event, Senator Collins presented Mr.Proulxof Hampden with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to honor him for his service in World War II. Every year, DAV helps more than one million veterans, from providing them with access to the health care and education benefits they earned through their service, to connecting them to meaningful employment opportunities,said Senator Collins. As the longest serving DAV member in Maine, I was honored to have the opportunity to thank Richard for his unwavering service to our country and to our state. It was especially touching to learn that Richard fought in the Battle of the Bulge, just as my father did. It is fitting that this incredibly moving celebration was held at the Cole Land Transportation Museum, which was founded by Galen Cole, a veteran who devoted his life to serving other veterans,Senator Collins continued. His passing earlier this year was a great loss to the State of Maine, but his contributions continue to inspire us. Senator Collins, along with her colleagues, recentlyintroducedtheVeteran Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020to improve benefits for veterans in the areas of education, pensions, and survivor benefits, among others. The legislation includes elementsof thebipartisanVeteran Pension Protection Act, legislation Senator Collinco-authoredthat would require the Department ofVeteransAffairs to systematically track victims, scammers, and trends to proactively protectveteransand survivors across the country from predatory pension poachers. Following abipartisan pushby Senator Collins, veterans who receive Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments automatically received theirCARES Actrebate checkand were not required to file a tax return. Founded in 1920, DAV is a veteran service organization that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families, helping more than one million veterans in positive, life-changing ways each year. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-nearly-3-million-university-maine-stem-programs,"Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $3 Million for University of Maine STEM Programs",2020-08-25,2020,2020-08,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 University of Maine has been awarded $2,998,114 to support graduate research on the rapidly changing Arctic. This funding was awarded through the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Research TraineeshipProgram to train graduate students in the interdisciplinary field of Artic systems science.The project anticipates training 57 MS and Ph.D. students, including 20 funded trainees from Ecology, Earth Sciences, Anthropology, Economics, and Marine Sciences. STEM education is extremely important in today's rapidly changing world,said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This important funding will allow the University of Maine tobettertrain graduate students in the interdisciplinary field of Arctic systems science, supportingfurther researchofthe environmental changes in Greenland, the Arctic-North Atlantic, and Maine. The NSF supports research, innovation, and discovery in order to provide a foundation for economic growth in America. Founded in 1950, the NSF is an independent federal agency that works to advance the frontiers of science and engineering so that our nation can develop the knowledge and cutting edge technologies needed to address current and future challenges. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-cosponsors-bipartisan-legislation-support-rural-broadband-amid-covid-19,Senator Collins Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Support Rural Broadband Amid COVID-19,2020-08-24,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins cosponsored theACCESS the Internet Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and John Cornyn (R-TX) that would authorize $2 billion to support distance learning and telehealth initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have had to move their studies, health care services, and workplaces online. This transition, however, has made it particularly difficult for those who do not have access to reliable broadband at home,said Senator Collins. This bipartisan bill would expand broadband for both distance learning and telehealth initiatives, helping to close the digital divide for rural and low-income residents in Maine and throughout the country. The ACCESS Act would provide $1.3 billion for the Department of Education to support rural school districts as they navigate distance learning, as well as to purchase and distribute Internet-connected devices to libraries in low-income and rural areas. In addition, the legislation would provide funding for the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand telehealth programs in rural, underserved areas. In July, Senators Collins and Manchin introduced theHotspots and Online Technology and Services Procurement for our Tribes and States(HOTSPOTS)Act, a bipartisan bill that would create a two-year hotspot pilot program to help libraries in low-income and rural areas purchase and distribute Internet-connected devices in their communities. This provision is included in the ACCESS the Internet Act. ClickHEREfor a summary of the bill. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-group-introduce-comprehensive-veterans-benefits-package,"Senator Collins, Group Introduce Comprehensive Veterans Benefits Package",2020-08-24,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), along with a group of Senators, introduced theVeteranBenefitsEnhancement and Expansion Act of 2020to improvebenefitsforveteransin the areas of education, pensions, and survivorbenefits, among others. Veteransin Maine and throughout the country have sacrificed so much for our nation, and we owe it to them to provide thebenefitsthey have earned through their service, particularly during the current public health and economic crisis,Senator Susan Collins said.This bipartisan bill would expand a wide array ofbenefitsforveteransand their loved ones, including educational assistance and housing loan programs, as well as require the VA to strengthen its financial fraud response to scams. The bipartisan bill includes elements of theVeteran Pension Protection Act, legislation Senator Collinco-authoredthat would require the Department ofVeteransAffairs (VA) to systematically track victims, scammers, and trends to proactively protectveteransand survivors across the country from predatory pension poachers. TheVeteranBenefitsEnhancement and Expansion Act of 2020was also introduced bySenate Committee onVeterans Affairs ChairmanSenator Jerry Moran (R-KS)and SenatorsThom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Steve Daines (R-MT.), James Lankford (R-OK) and JohnBoozman(R-AR.). Clickhereto read the section-by-section summary; andherefor the full bill text. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/supporting-maine%E2%80%99s-forest-products-industry,Supporting Maines Forest Products Industry,2020-08-24,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Throughout Maine's history, our forest products industry has created good-paying jobs, driven local economies, and sustained rural communities. It is a linchpin of our State's economy, generating an estimated $619 million in economic output and providing $342 million in income to around 9,000 Mainers. Across the nation, this vital industry was already facing significant headwinds due to a changing 21st century economy and unfairtrade practices. Here in Maine, the industry is further hampered by the explosion at the Androscoggin Mill in Jay, the shutdown of the paper machine at Sappi in Westbrook, and the announcement by Seven Islands that it has shut down its contractors through September. COVID-19 has only compounded these challenges. The logging industry has experienced a steep decline in demand for wood fiber since the coronavirus pandemic began, leading to an estimated 20 percent or more drop in the timber harvest this year. Maine'sfamily logging and timber hauling businesses need our support. That is why I have joined with Rep. Jared Golden to introduce the bipartisan, bicameralLoggers Relief Actthat would provide critical financial assistance to the skilled professionals who work in this industry in order to help them get through this difficult period. Congress has already created programs to provide COVID-19 relief for farmers and fishermen. Our bill would establish a new program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide direct payments to timber harvesting and hauling businesses that can demonstrate they have experienced significant economic hardship compared to the previous year. These businesses would qualify for direct payments from the USDA. The program envisioned in our bill is modeled after the USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which has been providing direct relief to growers and producers experiencing dramatic drops in prices and overall business activity due to the pandemic. Specifically, our legislation would provide payments to eligible log harvesting and hauling businesses that have experienced at least a 10 percent loss in revenues as compared to the same timeframe last year. Those who qualify would receive direct payments and would only be permitted to use the funds for operating expenses, including payroll. Theurgentneed for assistance for this industry and its skilled workforce was described by Duane Jordan of Waltham, whose 80-year-old family business shut down its logging operations in April due to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. For the first time in my 40-year career, my sons and I have decided not to return to the forest for the summer season, said Mr. Jordan. We will wait until fall and then choose a path forwardWhat a shame it would be to lose the talent of my sons and our valuable crew from the Maine Woods! I come from a forest-products family.There are few enterprisesthat require more faith in the future and respect for the past.Itis essential that existing, generations-old businesses are supported at this difficult time. It also is essential that young people in forest-products families have the opportunity to live and prosper in the communities they love. As the industry continues to cope with the impact of the pandemic, I remain committed to pushing for direct assistance for our loggers. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-delivers-keynote-remarks-pnsy-apprentice-graduation,Senator Collins Delivers Keynote Remarks at PNSY Apprentice Graduation,2020-08-22,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ClickHEREandHEREfor high-resolution photos Kittery, ME U.S. Senator Susan Collins provided the keynote remarks at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's (PNSY) 2020 Apprentice and Worker Skills Progression Programgraduation. The ceremony was arranged as a Drive-In, with the audience socially distanced in their vehicles. It was attended by approximately 300 PNSY graduates and their families. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's inspiring history, from the days of sail to the age of the atom, is your inheritance. The bright future is one you will help to create,said Senator Collins. Just as PNSY has been called the gold standard' of America's public shipyards, the programs you have completed are the gold standard of highly skilled workforce training. Graduateslike the members of the United States Navyyou are serving our country. Your skill and commitment will help ensure that the brave men and women of our submarine force have the best possible boats to defend our nation and to return home safely to their families and communities,Senator Collins continued. Thank you for your service and congratulations! Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is one of the largest employers in the Seacoast with more than 7,000 workers. The Shipyard Apprentice Program's Trades Apprenticeship and Worker Skills Progression Program train applicants in various skilled trades. The shipyard partners with York County Community College and Great Bay Community College to provide employees with the opportunity to earn credits towardsassociate's degrees in Trade and Technical Occupations and Technical Studies. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collinshas championed federal funding for PNSY. Shehas repeatedlysecured languagein annual defense appropriations bills directing the U.S. Navy to continue to conduct its highly successful apprenticeship program at PNSY and the other public shipyards. Recently, Senator Collinssecured military construction fundingfor thenew consolidated Paint, Blast, and Rubber Facility, a Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Consolidated Warehouse replacement, and the Dry Dock #1superfloodbasin project. Additionally, in this year's Senate National Defense Authorization Act, Senator Collins worked tosecure the authorizationofthe Multi-Mission Dry Dock #1 Extension project, which will ultimately result in $715 million in funding toexpand and modernize DryDock #1 over three years. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/american-postal-workers-union-strongly-supports-senator-collins%E2%80%99-usps-covid-19-relief-bill,American Postal Workers Union Strongly Supports Senator Collins USPS COVID-19 Relief Bill,2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.In a letter to U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Mark Dimondstein, President of the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO, expressed his strong support for The Postal Service Emergency Assistance Act that was introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on July 2nd. Their bill would provide USPS with up to $25 billion to cover revenue losses or operational expenses resulting from COVID-19. The United States Postal Service is our shared national treasure, Mr. Dimondstein wrote. For generations, postal workers have reliably fulfilled the mission of the Postal Service to bind the Nation together, processing, sorting and delivering vital medicines, Social Security and other benefits, financial transactions, elections material and countless other packages and mail to 160 million addresses, six days a week. The bill you introduced, The Postal Service Emergency Assistance Act, S.4174, would set the Postal Service on firm footing to weather the COVID-19 storm and continue the vital services the country relies upon, Mr. Dimondstein continued. The APWU applauds Senators Collins and Feinstein for their bipartisan leadership and we look forward to working with them to secure the financial relief the Postal Service needs. The Postal Service Emergency Assistance Act is supported by: the American Postal Workers Union, Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service, National Active and Retired Federal Employees, National Association of Postal Supervisors, National Postal Mail Handlers Union, National Rural Letter Carriers' Association, the Package Coalition, the PRINTING United Alliance, and United Postmasters and Managers of America. Click HERE to read the American Postal Workers Union's letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-bipartisan-group-senators-press-answers-saudi-arabia%E2%80%99s-nuclear-capabilities,"Collins, Bipartisan Group of Senators Press for Answers on Saudi Arabias Nuclear Capabilities",2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sendingaletterto President Donald Trump pressing for more information on Saudi Arabia's reported efforts to build secret nuclear facilities.This development threatens to undermine the international nonproliferation regime and U.S. objectives in the Middle East. In addition to Senator Collins, the letter was signed by Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rand Paul, M.D. (R-KY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Jerry Moran (R-KS). We write to express concern with recent media reports that Saudi Arabia is building secret nuclear facilities, evidence that its nuclear program is rapidly progressing in the absence of strong international safeguards,the Senators wrote.Riyadh's apparent lack of transparency regarding its nuclear efforts coupled with a growing ballistic missile program poses a serious threat to the international nonproliferation regime and United States objectives in the Middle East. According to [media reports]Saudi Arabia recently constructed a publicly undisclosed uranium milling plant with help from China. Given plans to extract uranium domestically and a desire to possess enrichment capabilities, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself to develop the front-end of the fuel cycle,the Senators continued. These technologies, if unchecked, would give Riyadh a latent capacity to produce fissile material for nuclear weapons. In their letter, the Senators laid out specific questions they'd like answers toina formal congressional briefing including the state ofSaudi Arabia's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and China's role in these efforts. These reports come as Saudi officials have resisted signing an Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has publicly stated Saudi Arabia's desire to acquire nuclear weaponsif Iran developed a nuclear bomb. ClickHEREto read the letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-significant-trade-victory-maine-lobster,Senator Collins Announces Significant Trade Victory for Maine Lobster,2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the United States and the European Union have reached an agreement to eliminate tariffs on live and frozen American lobster, which will help to substantially boost sales of Maine lobster to European markets. The White House called Senator Collins this morning to notify her of this positive development, for which she had strongly advocated. Several years ago, the European Union was a top destination for American lobster, accounting for approximately 15 to 20 percent of annual lobster exports. In 2017, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was implemented between Canada and the European Union, reducing tariffs to zero on live Canadian lobsters and eliminating tariffs over a period of several years on frozen and processed Canadian lobsters. This put American lobster exporters at a serious disadvantage because, unlike Canadians, American exporters were facing tariffs of between 8 and 30 percent to sell into the European Union. Under the deal reached today, there will now be a 0% tariff on live and frozen lobsters from the U.S., retroactive to August 1st. The agreement is expected to last for five years, with the European Union taking steps to make it permanent. This is welcome news for the hardworking men and women in Maine's lobster industry who are facing severe financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing trade war that has reduced exports. Placing U.S. lobster on a level playing field with Canadian lobster is a significant victory that will reopen this lucrative market to Maine lobstermen and women,said Senator Collins.I will continue to fight on behalf of our state's lobstermen and women as well as the small businesses that rely on this industry by addressing the numerous challenges the industry faces. The removal of the EU tariff on live and frozen lobster from the US is significant,said Annie Tselikis Executive Director Maine Lobster Dealers' Association. We are grateful for Sen. Collins's commitment to supporting our industry and her dedication to assisting us resolve our market access challenges in Europe. She has been at the forefront of this issue and has worked closely with our industry and USTR for several years. In April 2018, Senator CollinsurgedU.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to help expand foreign markets for American lobster in response to the economic harm caused by CETA. In July 2018, Senator CollinspressedU.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to continue fighting for the Maine lobster industry, citing CETA and China's retaliatory tariffs. In June 2018, the Maine Delegationhosted a meetingbetween top USTR officials, members of the Maine Lobster Dealers' Association, and local lobstermen to discuss the impact of federal trade policies on the state's most productive and profitable fishery. In November 2019, Senators Collins, and Angus King and Representative Chellie Pingreecalled onUSTR Lighthizer to prioritize a trade deal with the European Union (E.U.) that would reduce or eliminate E.U. tariffs on Maine lobster. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-thanks-staff-and-volunteers-york-hospital%E2%80%99s-drive-thru-covid-19-testing,Senator Collins Thanks Staff and Volunteers at York Hospitals Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Center,2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ClickHERE,HERE,HERE, andHEREfor high-resolution photos York, ME U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited York Hospital's Drive-Thru Rapid Result COVID-19 Testing Center to thank the volunteers, employees, and members of the Maine National Guard for staffing the testing site. She also provided them with water and snacks. The swabs were made by Puritan Medical Products,a medical supplies manufacturer based in Guilford, and the tests were made by Abbott Labs, which has a facility in Scarborough. I am grateful for the dedication of the health care workers and members of the Maine National Guard who are keeping York Hospital's testing center up and running seven days a week,said Senator Collins. Their work is making a real difference in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19 and safely reopen our communities. I am continuing to push for additional federal funding to increase COVID-19 testing throughout Maine and support those working on the front lines of this pandemic. To date, Maine has received nearly $70 million to expand testing capacity and purchase testing supplies through COVID-19 relief legislation supported by Senator Collins. Last week, Senator Collinsannouncedthat Puritan Medical Products has been awarded $51.2 million to expand its COVID-19 flock tip testing swab production, building on a $75.5 millioncontract awarded to Puritan in April. At a Senate Health Committee hearing in June, Senator Collinsurgedtop health officials to boost testing efforts in Maine and throughout the country. The drive-thru site, a joint venture between the York Hospital and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, offers both Rapid Result nucleic acid amplified tests (NAAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Appointments are available for anyone who believes they may have COVID-19 or could have been exposed to the virus, with or without symptoms, as defined under the Department of Health and Human Services Standing Order. This includes individuals traveling to Maine from states with a higher prevalence, and a provider referral is not needed for the rapid test. Click here for more information and to book an appointment:https://www.yorkhospital.com/covid-19-testing-info/ ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-urges-usda-continue-school-meal-flexibility-waivers-maine-students,Senator Collins Urges USDA to Continue School Meal Flexibility Waivers for Maine Students,2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), along with 19 of her colleagues, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to continue utilizing existing flexibilities that have allowed students to access much needed schoolmeals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.In Maine,82,000 children rely on free and reduced-priced lunch programs during the school year, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated food needs across the State. We appreciateUSDA's use of child nutrition program waiver authority, flexibility provided, and work with state agencies, schools and non-school sponsoring organizations to provide meals through various child nutrition programs when schools were unexpectedly closed in the spring,the Senators wrote. We also applaud the extension of these flexibilities through the summer months. Many schools and families are currently determining their plans for the upcoming school year, including plans for school meals,the Senators continued. We ask you and theUSDAteam to continue utilizing child nutrition program waivers that Congress provided in a manner consistent with existing authorities and program objectives. In addition to Senator Collins, the letter was signed bySenate Agriculture Committee ChairmanPat Roberts (R-KS)and SenatorsJohn Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), SteveDaines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Charles Grassley (R-IA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Inhofe (R-OK), James Lankford (R-OK), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and John Thune (R-SD). In March, all four members of Maine's Congressional DelegationwroteUSDAin support ofeligibilityflexibilitythat iscritical to maintaining children's access to meals during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, the DelegationwroteUSDASecretary Perdueagain to express their full support for a request by the Maine Department of Education for a waiver extension, which was successfully extended through the end of the summer. Earlier this month, Senators Collins and Maggie Hassan (D-NH)led a letterthat was signed by 34 of their colleagues to urge theUSDAto continuetheseflexibilitiesthroughout the 2020-2021 school year.If these flexibilities are extended past the end of summer, children would maintain access regardless of school opening status, and struggling school nutrition programs would benefit from additional financial relief. ClickHEREto read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-local-businesses-south-berwick,Senator Collins Visits Local Businesses in South Berwick,2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ClickHERE,HERE, andHEREfor high-resolution photos South Berwick, ME This afternoon, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited several small businesses in downtown South Berwick to meet with small business owners, employees, and local residents. Stops included Nature's Way Market, a full-service local grocery store, and South Berwick Pharmacy Seacoast Compounding Inc., an independent, full-service, neighborhood pharmacy. During my visit to South Berwick today, I had wonderful discussions with members of the community.Small business owners and their employees have worked hard to keep their doors openduring the COVID-19 pandemicand safely provide local residents with groceries, supplies, and services,said Senator Collins. Downtown businesses are the focal point of communities across our state. I am pleased that the Paycheck Protection Program I co-authored has provided forgivable loans to more than 28,000 Maine small businesses, which has helped support 240,000 jobs and strengthen our downtowns. The Paycheck Protection Program has been a tremendous success, providing more than $525 billion in forgivable loans to more than 5.2 million borrowers nationwide since its launch in early April. In Maine, more than 28,000 small businesses and self-employed individuals have received nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable loans, which has helped to support approximately 240,000 jobs throughout the state. To support the hardest-hit small employers and their employees, Senators Collins and Marco Rubio (R-FL)introducedlegislation that would allow the most severely affected small businesses to receive a second PPP loan. In general, eligible small employers with 300 or fewer employees that have suffered a 35 percent revenue decline could apply for a second forgivable loan. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-feinstein-call-senate-quickly-pass-emergency-financial-relief-us-postal-service,"Collins, Feinstein Call on Senate to Quickly Pass Emergency Financial Relief for U.S. Postal Service",2020-08-20,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) sent a letter to Senate leadership calling for the Senate to quickly take up and pass thePostal Service Emergency Assistance Act,bipartisan legislation theyintroducedthat would help shore up the agency's finances to ensure it remains strong throughout the current national crisis. ThePostal Service Emergency Assistance Actwould provide USPS with up to $25 billion to cover revenue losses or operational expenses resulting from COVID-19. Prior to using the funds, the Postal Service would need to certify in its quarterly and annual reports to the Postal Regulatory Commission that the funds are needed to cover COVID-19-related losses or operational expenses. Senators Collins and Feinstein's bill would also address the borrowing authority provided in the CARES Act and require the Board of Governors to transmit to Congress a plan to ensure the long-term solvency of USPS. The COVID-19 public health emergency has underscored the vital role of the USPS while also posing challenges for this essential agency,wrote Senators Collins and Feinstein. The pandemic has contributed to declines in first-class and marketing mail volumes, while adding new costs, including for personal protective equipment and other safety measures. Even in light of increases in package volumes, the USPS estimates that COVID-19 will increase net losses and accelerate its cash crisis. At this critical moment as the United States struggles to overcome a devastating public health crisis and as we gear up for a national election, the need for fast and reliable mail delivery is clear. This basic and essential service must be preserved, and it is well within Congress' capacity to ensure this happens,the Senators continued. Following efforts fromSenators Collinsand Feinstein, USPS Postmaster GeneralLouis DeJoy suspended operational changes, which were causing delays in mail delivery, until after the election. The Senators expect the Postmaster General to revisit and address any previous operational changes that are continuing to have adverse consequences on mail delivery, and they will continue to monitor the actions of the Postal Service closely to ensure there are no further disruptions or delays. ThePostal Service Emergency Assistance Actis supported by: the American Postal Workers Union, Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service, National Active and Retired Federal Employees, National Association of Postal Supervisors, National Postal Mail Handlers Union, National Rural Letter Carriers' Association, the Package Coalition, the PRINTING United Alliance, and United Postmasters and Managers of America. ClickHEREto read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-delegation-announces-nearly-45m-nbrc-economic-infrastructure-development-grants,Maine Delegation Announces Nearly $4.5M in NBRC Economic & Infrastructure Development Grants,2020-08-20,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), and Representatives Chellie Pingree (ME-01) and Jared Golden (ME-02) announced nearly $4.5M in grants from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) today. The Economic & Infrastructure Development (EID) grants will provide funding to address aging water and sewage treatment infrastructure, enhance rural access to broadband, and support small businesses. Reliable infrastructure is essential for our economic resilience in Maine,said the Maine delegation.The access to high-speed internet, updates to local services and facilities, and other projects made possible by these grants will help support small businesses, keep families healthy and safe, help our students succeed, and grow our state's economy. The NBRC is a federal-state partnership that was created by Congress in 2008 to help alleviate economic distress and encourage private sector job creation throughout the northern counties of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. The following grants were announced: $1,000,000to theGreater Franklin Development Council, to extend fiber optic internet access to six towns in and around Franklin County; $1,000,000to theAnson Madison Sanitary District, to upgrade the sewer system; $1,000,000to theFort Fairfield Utilities District, for the construction of new infrastructure to treat wastewater; $505,100to theAshland Water and Sewer District, to enhance water quality by removing and replacing aging infrastructure; $516,116to theTown of East Millinocket, to fix and upgrade the recycling and train facilities; $44,600toCommunity Concepts Finance Corporation, to improve internet access in rural Maine for approximately 8,000 people; $345,000toSunrise County Economic Council Entrepreneurship Council, to create a small business support center in Washington County; $88,810to theTown of Searsport, for sewer facility upgrades. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-fire-departments-receive-more-13-million-amid-covid-19,Maine Fire Departments Receive More than $1.3 Million Amid COVID-19,2020-08-20,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. SenatorsSusan Collinsand Angus Kingannounced that fire departments throughout Maine have received a total of $1,325,705 to upgrade equipment and support personnel. The funding was awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program to provide critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel, enhance efficiencies, and support community resilience. Some of the grants were funded by annual AFG appropriations provided by Congress while others were funded by the $100 million provided in the CARES Act for firefighters to purchase personalprotective equipment (PPE) to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Firefighters and fire support staff put their lives on the line every day to protect us,said Senators Collinsand Kingin ajointstatement. This important investment will ensure that our Maine fire departments have the necessary equipment and personnel to continue to keep our families and communities safe in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The funding was allocated as follows: Veazie Fire Departmentreceived $39,901 to replace its current cardiac monitor that was discontinued by the manufacturer and is no longer serviceable, as well as to purchase a cardiac monitor. Bangor Fire Departmentreceived $99,728 to replace its outdated and noncompliant fire department radios with new, mobile communications equipment. Houlton Fire Departmentreceived $7,157 to acquirePersonal Protective Equipment (PPE). Albion Fire Departmentreceived $342,666 for a water tankertruckand a large diameter fire hose. Winslow Fire Departmentreceived $97,904 for firefighter breathing apparatuses. Biddeford Fire Departmentreceived $25,520 for firefighter personal escape devices. Newport Fire Departmentreceived $15,140 for a protective gear washer and dryer. Georgetown Volunteer Fire Departmentreceived $12,528. Woolwich Fire Departmentreceived $3,139. Fairfield Fire Departmentreceived $125,240. Arundel Fire and Rescuereceived $5,816. JeffersonFire Departmentreceived $1,167. Westbrook Fire Departmentreceived $21,809. West Gardiner Fire Departmentreceived $2,127. Fryeburg Fire Departmentreceived $15,223. Auburn Fire Departmentreceived $101,481. Portland Fire Departmentreceived $216,600. Casco Fire Departmentreceived $69,788. Eddington Fire Departmentreceived $65,055. Old Orchard Beach Fire Departmentreceived $43,147. Falmouth Fire Department$7,427. Kittery Fire Departmentreceived $7,142. As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Senator Collins has been a longstanding advocate for Maine's first responders, fighting hard toensure they have the resources and support necessary to protect lives and property. Senator Collins annually leads a bipartisan letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging robust funding for FEMA's firefighter grant programs, which she helped create in 2003, and the FY20 homeland security funding legislation included $335 million each for both AFG and the SAFER grant program. Following the inclusion of an additional $100 million for the AFG program in the CARES Act, Senator Collins spearheaded a bipartisanletterto FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor, urging him to expedite the release of this funding for firefighters to purchase PPE.Later that month,FEMA announcedthat it had begun accepting applications for theemergency funding. SenatorsCollinsand Kingwrote to FEMA in support of the grant applications submitted by theTown of Veazie, theCity of Bangor, and theTown of Houlton. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-more-1-million-pipeline-safety,Senator Collins Announces More than $1 Million for Pipeline Safety,2020-08-20,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins,theChairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $1,046,744 to the State of Maine to help keep the state pipeline system safe. Thefundingwas awardedthroughthe Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Following the heartbreaking explosion in Farmington last year, we must ensure that our pipelines are a safe and efficient method for transporting the energy needed by homes and businesses in communities across our state,said Senator Collins. This important investment in oversight will help prevent future accidents like the Farmington explosion and ensure thatMainershave access to low-cost energy. The funding will be allocated as follows: The National Partnership for Environmental Technologywill receive $458,983 through the Hazardous Materials Instructor Training Grants program to train hazmat instructors in Hazardous Materials Regulations to further train more hazmat employees. Hazmat employees respond to incidents to prevent further harm and are educated on current transport regulations of hazardous materials. The Maine Public Utilities Commissionwill receive $46,738 through the One Call Grant program to help fund the Damage Prevention law, ensuring the commission can maintain a record of all underground pipes throughout the state and fine up to $5,000 per violation. Under the law, anyone doing excavation work should call DigSafe so that member utility companies can mark underground hazards to prevent incidents like the Farmington, Maine explosion. The Maine Emergency Management Agencywill receive $195,018 through the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grants program to develop or revise emergency plans and training activities to account for bulk transportation of energy products by rail and over the road. The State of Mainewill receive $346,005 through the Pipeline Safety State Base program to provide a reimbursement of up to 80 percent of operating costs for state programs charged with inspecting intrastate transmission and distribution pipelines that transport natural gas, crude oil, and other energy products within state boundaries. Created in 2004, PHMSA establishes national policy, sets and enforces standards, educates, and conducts research to prevent incidents. The agency also prepares the public and first responders to reduce consequences if an incident does occur. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-capito-introduce-measure-provide-45-billion-additional-funding-substance,"Senators Collins, Capito Introduce Measure to Provide $4.5 Billion in Additional Funding for Substance Use, Mental Health Programs in COVID-19 Relief Bill",2020-08-20,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Shelley MooreCapito(R-WV) introduced an amendment to the COVID-19 relief package that would provide an additional $4.5 billion in emergency funds for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Programs like SAMHSA have been instrumental in helping to combat the opioid crisis. Unfortunately, across the nation, drug overdose deaths are rising, reversing much of the progress seen over the past couple of years. Moreover, many Americans' mental health has suffered due to the pressures caused by the pandemic. The pandemic has taken a severe toll on our public health infrastructure and has strained services related to substance abuse, mental health, and suicide prevention,said Senator Collins. In Maine, drug overdose deaths increased by more than 20 percent in the first four months of 2020, and calls to suicide prevention hotlines have soared. Our amendment would significantly boost funding to help combat the opioid crisis and promote mental health services in order to support the growing number of Americans who are relying on these programs during this difficult time. Our nation is facing unprecedented challenges right now,SenatorCapitosaid.It's important to remember that while we are dealing with coronavirus, this is not the only health crisis we are battling.West Virginia has seen more than any state should have to endure when it comes to the devastating consequences of a crisis that is affecting families and communities across our state. That's why I have continued working hard to make sure that we receive the resources we need to fight it. Programs like SAMHSA are essential in this fight, and the measure Senator Collins and I introduced today will provide the support needed to continue these essential services as we continue to fight the drug epidemic in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Senators Collins andCapito'smeasure provides $4.5 billion. Below is a full breakdown of the funds included in the amendment: Mental Health Services Block Grant $2 billion, of which, no less than 50 percent of funds shall be directed to behavioral health providers Substance Abuse and Prevention Treatment Block Grant $1.5 billion. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics $600 million. Suicide Prevention Programs $50 million. Project AWARE $100 million to support mental health once children return to school. Emergency Grants to States $250 million for flexible emergency grants to states ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-delegation-urges-usda-act-president-trump%E2%80%99s-lobster-order-monday%E2%80%99s-deadline,Maine Delegation Urges USDA to Act on President Trumps Lobster Order Before Mondays Deadline,2020-08-19,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. With the 60-day deadline fast approaching, today Maine's Congressional Delegation wrote to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to immediately act on President Trump'sJune 24th memorandumto provide relief funds to the lobster industry. President Trump's memo stated the Secretary of Agriculture shall, within 60 days of the date of this memorandum, consider taking appropriate action, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to provide assistance to fisherman and producers in the U.S. lobster industry that continue to be harmed by China's retaliatory tariffs but the Agriculture Secretary has yet to issue rule changes based on the President's non-binding directive. We urge you to keep the President's promise and immediately assist the thousands of Mainers whose livelihoods depend on this critical industry,the Maine Delegation wrote.As you know, Maine's lobster industry has been and continues to be significantly impacted by China's retaliatory tariffs. A few years ago, U.S. lobster exports to China were growing rapidly, reaching $128.5 million in 2017. However, this trend abruptly reversed after China imposed these tariffs in July 2018. The following year, lobster exports to China fell by nearly 50 percent. Despite making commitments to increase purchases, China bought only $25.9 million of U.S. lobster during the first half of 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Read the delegation's full letterhereand a text below: Dear Secretary Perdue, We write regarding President Trump's June 24 memorandum titled Memorandum on Protecting the United States Lobster Industry. This memorandum directed you to consider taking appropriate action, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to provide assistance to fishermen and producers in the United States lobster industry that continue to be harmed by China's retaliatory tariffs within 60 days. We were encouraged by this directive, given that we urged President Trump to make lobstermen eligible for this aid more than a year ago. This 60-day period is now drawing to a close, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has yet to take any further action. We urge you to keep the President's promise and immediately assist the thousands of Mainers whose livelihoods depend on this critical industry. As you know, Maine's lobster industry has been and continues to be significantly impacted by China's retaliatory tariffs. A few years ago, U.S. lobster exports to China were growing rapidly, reaching $128.5 million in 2017. However, this trend abruptly reversed after China imposed these tariffs in July 2018. The following year, lobster exports to China fell by nearly 50 percent. Despite making commitments to increase purchases, China bought only $25.9 million of U.S. lobster during the first half of 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Unlike other types of food producers who were affected by retaliatory tariffs and received prompt federal relief, Maine's lobstermen were not eligible for the $28 billion in trade mitigation aid that USDA authorized in 2018 and 2019. With no end to these tariffs in sight and the new burden of the COVID-19 pandemic also weighing heavily on the industry, it is imperative that Maine's lobster producers receive immediate support from the Department. Thank you for your attention to this important matter, and we look forward to USDA's prompt action. Sincelast June, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden have worked together to offset thefinancial toll President Trump's trade war has had on the state'sseafood industry. As a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Pingree successfullyoffered an amendmentto the fiscal year 2021 funding billdirecting the USDA Secretary to review President Trump's memorandum and prioritize appropriate assistance to the lobster industry. This press release can be found onlinehere. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-passing-bangor-troop-greeter-jerry-mundy,Senator Collins Statement on Passing of Bangor Troop Greeter Jerry Mundy,2020-08-19,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bangor, MEU.S. Senator Susan Collins issued this statement on the passing of Jerry Mundy, a leader of the Bangor Troop Greeters: Asone of the leaders of the Bangor Troop Greeters, Jerry Mundy welcomed countless troops from flights carrying them overseas or bringing them back home. Whether these planes landed in the daytime or the middle of the night, no matter the weather, Jerry made sure that the men and women of our armed forces were met with cookies and coffee, cheers and songs, and handshakes and hugs. I had the pleasure of meeting Jerry on several occasions, including once at a screening of a documentary on the Bangor Troop Greeters at the U.S. Capitol, and another time while he was in his element greeting troops at the Bangor International Airport. As a veteran himself, Jerry always knew the exact right words of encouragement and appreciation to express to every service member he met in order to help them feel a little closer to home. Maine has lost a very special patriot, but his memory will live on in the hearts of the many grateful men and women in our armed forces whom he greeted with open arms.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-passing-former-senator-slade-gorton,Senator Collins Statement on Passing of Former Senator Slade Gorton,2020-08-19,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bangor, MEU.S. Senator Susan Collins issued this statement on the passing of former Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA): Slade Gorton had an impact on our country in so many ways, whether it was serving as a valued mentor to more junior Senators, being the architect of very important legislation, or serving as a member of the 9/11 Commission. What I admired most about Slade was his intellectually rigorous, challenging, and creative approach to public policy. During our Senate service together, we worked on a host of issues such as improving education and expanding access to children's health care. His work on the 9/11 Commission produced a series of recommendations that were enacted into law as part of intelligence reforms I co-authored, and they have helped to protect our nation from future threats. Slade was a strong advocate for children's health. Not only was he an early supporter of the Children's Health Insurance Program, but he also worked for years to increase federal research dollars toward autism. Slade was a brilliant legislator and a wonderful friend, and he will be deeply missed.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-bangor-letter-shop,Senator Collins Visits Bangor Letter Shop,2020-08-19,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ClickHERE,HERE, andHEREfor high-resolution photos Bangor, ME This afternoon, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited the Bangor Letter Shop, which provides design, copy, print, and mail services. The Bangor Letter Shop received a forgivable loan through the Paycheck Protection Program, which wasco-authoredby Senator Collins. Since 1980, the Bangor Letter Shop has been committed to supporting local businesses, giving back to their community, and strengthening the local economy,said Senator Collins. I am pleased that the Bangor Letter Shop was awarded a forgivable PPP loan, which helped to keep their dedicated employees paid and cover their rent during the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. The Paycheck Protection Program has been a tremendous success, providing more than $525 billion in forgivable loans to more than 5.2 million borrowers nationwide since its launch in early April. In Maine, more than 28,000 small businesses and self-employed individuals have received nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable loans, which has helped to support approximately 240,000 jobs throughout the state. To support the hardest-hit small employers and their employees, Senators Collins and Marco Rubio (R-FL)introducedlegislation that would allow the most severely affected small businesses to receive a second PPP loan. In general, eligible small employers with 300 or fewer employees that have suffered a 35 percent revenue decline could apply for a second forgivable loan. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-more-58-million-kennebec-valley-head-start-programs-amid,"Senators Collins, King Announce More than $5.8 Million for Kennebec Valley Head Start Programs Amid COVID-19",2020-08-19,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom Senators Collins, King Announce More than $5.8 Million for Kennebec Valley Head Start Programs Amid COVID-19 Posted Wed, 08/19/2020 - 10:09 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 Kennebec Valley Community Action Program a total of $5,869,784 for its Head Start and Early Head Start Programs. Head Start provides children with a strong educational foundation that allows them to grow and succeed. It also gives parents the developmental resources they need to support their children and to help them build confidence,said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We welcome this investment in Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, which will encourage our children to grow and thrive and support Maine's working families during the current public health and economic crisis. Head Start was established in 1965 to promote school readiness and provide a comprehensive array of health, nutritional, and social services to eligible four- and five-year-old preschoolers and their families. Early Head Start services are available for eligible children age zero to three and pregnant women. Head Start services include early learning, health, and family well-being. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/nearly-20-million-covid-19-financial-relief-has-been-awarded-maine-farmers,Nearly $20 Million in COVID-19 Financial Relief has been Awarded to Maine Farmers,2020-08-18,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that Maine farmers have been awarded a total of$19,704,833 to dateto help offset the financial harm they have experienced due to COVID-19. The funding is provided through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), created through the CARES Act, which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America's farmers. The supply chain disruptions and restaurant closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have placed increasing financial pressure on Maine's rural farming communities, from newly founded farms to operations that have been passed down from generation to generation,said Senator Collins.These direct payments, which I worked to include in the CARES Act, will help provide some relief.During this difficult time, I will continue to advocate for Mainefarmers. In addition to facilitating the Farmers to Families Food Box program, CFAPis providing vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face significant additionalmarketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities. Farmers will receive direct support from two funding sources: The first is $9.5 billion in appropriated funding provided in the CARES Act, which will compensatefarmers for losses due to price declines that occurred between mid-January 2020 and mid-April 2020 and provides support for specialty crops. The second is the Commodity Credit Corporation, which will compensate producers for $6.5 billion in losses due to ongoing market disruptions. To date, the funding has been allocated as follows: Dairy farmershave been awarded $8,705,213. Livestock farmershave been awarded $1,241,804. Non-Specialty crop farmershave been awarded $658,758. Specialty crop farmershave been awarded $9,099,058. The USDA is continuing to accept applications from farmers through August 28.More information aboutCFAPand the application process can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) resource page:Farmers.gov/cfap. +++ Last month, Senator Collins visited Van Buren, where 760 food boxes through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program were distributed to members of the community. The food boxes, which contained products from Maine farmers, were purchased through a $2.14 million contract recently awarded to Maine Farmers Exchange (MFX) to participate in the program. Additionally, Senator Collins recently visited Native Maine Produce and Specialty Foodsto meet with managers and employees andcelebratea $1.35 million contract the wholesale food distributor was recently awardedto distribute 45,000 food boxes, each holding 25 pounds of produce, to Maine food banks. Senator Collins has helped to lead bipartisan efforts in Congress to direct more support to farmers. Sheco-signed a series of lettersto the USDA, urging Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize assistance to Maine farmers, including those in the dairy, potato, and blueberry industries. Senator Collins and Representative Pingreealsowrote to USDAto emphasize the need to provide assistance directly to growers as well as support local producers and their supply chains, andshe joinedSenators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in leading a group of bipartisan Senators in urging the USDA to target COVID-19 relief provisions to reach local farmers. In aletterto the USDA, Senator Collins elevated the concerns and questions raised by representatives of the potato industry, including the Maine Potato Board, who are facing an unprecedented crisis due to the economic impact of COVID-19. Furthermore, Senator Collins offered recommendations for theCFAPthat would address the supply backlogand called for direct relief for potato growers. In May, Senators Collins, King, and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)introduced the Farming Support to States Act, a bipartisan bill to provide states access to immediate, flexible funding to aid in responding to urgent and emerging issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in America's agriculture economy and food supply chain. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-meets-leaders-rsu-29-discuss-plans-safely-reopen-fall,Senator Collins Meets with Leaders of RSU 29 to Discuss Plans to Safely Reopen this Fall,2020-08-18,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for high-resolution photos Houlton, ME Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Houlton High School to meet withschool officialsto discuss how they are preparing to safely reopen for in-person classes this fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Collins also toured the high school. Those in attendance included Superintendent Ellen Halliday andHoulton Middle-High School Principal Tim Tweedie. During the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers and staff at Houlton High School and throughout Maine have remained dedicated to ensuring that students have the tools and resources they need to achieve their educational goals, said Senator Collins. During my visit today, I had a productive discussion about the steps RSU 29 is taking to keep their school community safe. We also spoke about ways we can work together to help close the digital divide that many students in rural communities face. Public schools are preparing to welcome students back to school this fall by procuring adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, reconfiguring classroom spaces, installing Plexiglas shields, and modifying bus routes. As some students may be turning to remote learning, rural schools are focusing on providing adequate Internet access for their students,Senator Collins continued.Congress needs to provide additional funds to help school districts implement these changes to facilitate learning and to protect students, teachers, staff, custodians, food service, and other employees. Last week, Senator Collins joined Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and John Cornyn (R-TX) in introducing the ACCESS the Internet Act, which would authorize $2 billion to support distance learning and telehealth initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Senators Collins and Manchin introduced the Hotspots and Online Technology and Services Procurement for our Tribes and States (HOTSPOTS) Act, which would create a two-year hotspot pilot program to help libraries in low-income and rural areas purchase and distribute Internet-connected devices in their communities. This provision is included in the ACCESS the Internet Act. RSU 29 serves the towns of Houlton, Hammond, Littleton, and Monticello. +++ Senator Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Education Committee, has secured millions of dollars for Maine's public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and is working to ensure that schools and communities throughout our state have the resources they need to safely reopen. At a hearing in June, Senator Collinsquestioned Dr. Anthony Fauciabout a new method to more efficiently test large groups of people for COVID-19. This cost-effective strategy, known as pool testing, can be used in settings such as schools to detect the presence of the virus. At a separate hearing, Senator Collins,questioned college presidents and a public health expert about their work to help students, faculty, and staff safely return to campus this fall. In May, Senator Collins joined a bipartisan group of Senators inintroducing theState and Municipal Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Act.The SMART Act would provide emergency funding to every state, county, and community in the country to help offset costs and revenue shortfallsincluding those for schoolsas a result of COVID-19. Maine would receive at least $2 billion through this legislation. Earlier this year, Senator Collinsannouncedthat Maine was awardednearly $44 million through the CARES Act to support K-12 students. Additionally, she announced that Mainereceiveda $9.2 million block grant to support K-12 and postsecondary education in the state. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-issue-statements-final-report-intelligence-committee-russia,"Senators Collins, King Issue Statements on Final Report of Intelligence Committee Russia Investigation",2020-08-18,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, on which Senators Susan Collins and Angus King serve, released the fifth and final volume of the Committee's bipartisan Russia investigation titled, Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities. The report examines Russia's attempts to gain influence in the American political system during the 2016 elections. The Committee's investigation totaled more than three years of investigative activity, more than 200 witness interviews, and more than a million pages of reviewed documents. All five volumes total more than 1,300 pages. Volume 5 of SSCI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election cycle is an exhaustive look into Moscow's multifaceted effort to collect intelligence on the major parties and to undermine the public's confidence in the electoral process, said Senator Collins. According to the intelligence community, our government and political parties are much better prepared for foreign interference efforts than in 2016, but additional action must be taken to safeguard our elections, the cornerstone of our democracy. This is why, for example, I cosponsored the Foreign Influence Reporting Elections (FIRE)Act, the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act, and the Secure Election Act, as well as supported an additional $425 million in election security funding in the FY20 budget. Completion of all five volumes in a bipartisan manner is a testament to the bipartisan traditions of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. I believe all five volumes, but especially Volume 5, will serve for our government and historians as a critical, fact-based account of the events surrounding the 2016 election. As we approach the 2020 elections, the results of our bipartisan investigation into Russia's campaign to interfere in our democratic process should be a wake-up call for all Americans,said Senator King.This report provides clear and unambiguous facts about the Trump campaign and how it opened the door to a devastating Russian active measures operation. For example, it shows that Paul Manafort, Chairman of the Trump Campaign at the time, was in close contact with an operative of the Russian government and shared detailed internal polling data that may have offered demographic targets for Russia's bots and disinformation. It also shows that Mr. Manafort was not the only member of the Trump campaign that made our country vulnerable to foreign interference; although denying it at the time, Candidate Trump, his family, and some of his closest advisors had entered into personal and business entanglements with Russian oligarchs and other influencers that made them prime counterintelligence targets.Many of these same vulnerabilities still exist today. This is why this report serves as a rear-view mirror but also a possible view of the road ahead of us as we enter another election cycle. The fact is that the findings of the committee -- supported on a bipartisan basis matter more at this moment in time than ever before,Senator King continued.Rather than disavowing this threat, President Trump and his inner circle have denied the unambiguous facts laid out in the report and, inexplicably, continue to take actions that support the aims and ambitions of Vladimir Putin. Rather than passing commonsense legislation to require political campaigns to report to the appropriate authorities contacts from foreign nationals, the President and his allies have blocked these efforts from being added to the NDAA and becoming law; indeed the President himself has expressed an openness to foreign interference in a news interview from the Oval Office. And as the Intelligence Community assessed just a few weeks ago, Russia has updated its playbook and is now targeting Vice President Biden with its active measures including through proxies who are spreading rumors to denigrate Biden and boost President Trump's candidacy on social media. Mark Twain once said that history doesn't always repeat itself but it often rhymes, especially for those who refuse to learn its lessons. We must learn from our past in order to prepare Americans for these ongoing efforts to undermine our democracy this November and in the years ahead. You can read Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities here. Read the Senate Intelligence Committee's previous reports: ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-push-nih-research-funding-next-covid-19-relief-package,"Senators Collins, King Push for NIH Research Funding in Next COVID-19 Relief Package",2020-08-18,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), along with 24 of their colleagues, sent a bipartisan letter to Senate leadership calling for $15.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to be included in the fourth COVID-19 relief package to avoid significant harm to the research pipeline in the United States. Amid the pandemic, a majority of our researchers have been unable to continue their work while away from their labs and the impact will be felt for years to come. These disruptions will add a significant delay in our understanding of dangerous diseases as well as cutting-edge treatments to improve quality of life for those suffering from them, the Senators wrote. This critical funding must be included in the next COVID-19 package so that NIH can continue its groundbreaking research to treat and eventually cure this virus and other deadly diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, and diabetes. In the letter, the Senators urged Senate leadership to provide additional funding for the National Institutes of Health, including $10 billion to help make up for unforeseen disruptions and costs to important, ongoing medical research nationwide, and $5.5 billion for NIH-supported coronavirus-related research into cures, treatments, and vaccines. In addition to Senators Collins and King, the letter was signed by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Bill Cassidy M.D (R-LA). As the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, and the founder and co-chair of the Senate Alzheimer's Task Force and the Diabetes Caucus, Senator Collins is a champion for greater investments in biomedical research. She successfully advocated for a $2.6 billion increase for the NIH, a $350 million increase for Alzheimer's research, and an $81.8 million increase for diabetes research in the fiscal year 2020 appropriations package. This funding met 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. Click HERE to read the letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-cosponsors-bipartisan-legislation-support-us-research-community-amid-covid,Senator Collins Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Support U.S. Research Community Amid COVID-19,2020-08-17,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins cosponsored theResearch Investment to Spark the Economy (RISE) Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Edward Markey (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Cory Gardner (R-CO) that would authorize $26 billion in support to researchers across the country who have been impacted by the pandemic. There is simply no investment that promises greater returns for America than our investment in scientific 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 goingsaid Senator Collins. This bipartisan bill would provide critical funding to the research communities in Maine and throughout the country, whose transformative work brings tangible hope to so many Americans as we continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. ""Federally funded research at the University of Maine has grown our local natural resource economy, strengthened the state's quality of life and environment, safeguarded American troops, and sustained thousands of good-paying Maine jobs,said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, president of the University of Maine, a land, sea, and space grant institution.COVID-19 caused unprecedented disruption to our research laboratories and centers, which pivoted quickly to meeting the pandemic-related needs of the state, from producing hand sanitizer to innovating PPE to protect frontline health workers. As president of the state's only public research university, I thank Senator Collins for her leadership in cosponsoring the bipartisan RISE Act, which will help us restart the research and development projects stalled by the coronavirus that are essential to Maine's economic recovery, national security and global competitiveness."" The RISE Act would provide research funding to the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Education, Energy, Interior, Health and Human Services, as well as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Thisfundingwill allowprojects that have been disrupted due to the pandemic continue, help cover increased costs of equipment, and will support research at higher education institutions on the behavioral, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19. As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, and as the founder and co-chair of the Senate Alzheimer's Task Force and the Diabetes Caucus, Senator Collins has strongly advocated for increased funding for biomedical research. Senator Collinssuccessfully advocatedfor a $2.6 billion increase for the National Institute of Health, a $350 million increase for Alzheimer's research, and an $81.8 million increase for diabetes research in the fiscal year 2020 appropriations package. ClickHEREfor the text of the bill. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-cosponsors-legislation-increase-transparency-lower-cost-health-care,"Senator Collins Cosponsors Legislation to Increase Transparency, Lower Cost of Health Care",2020-08-17,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Aging Committee and a member of the Health Committee, cosponsored theHealth Care PRICE Transparency Act, legislation that would codify two health care price transparency rules that require hospitals and insurers to reveal their discounted cash prices and negotiated rates to consumers before they receive medical care. The legislation was also introduced by Senators Mike Braun (R-IN),Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Mike Enzi (R-WY), John Kennedy (R-LA), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), and John Barrasso (R-WY). With our nation facing a health and economic crisis, it is more important than ever that Congress come together to increase health care'saffordability and accessibility,said Senator Collins. I can't think of any other service Americans buy where the price is more opaque than health care. By strengthening transparency, this commonsense legislation would help increase competition among providers and ensure consumers pay the lowest possible price for medical care. Last November, the Administration issued two rules to increase price transparency, empower patients, and increase competition among all hospitals and insurers. The hospital price transparency rule, which is set to go into effect in January 2021, was immediately challenged in court. In June, a federal judge sided with the Administration and upheld the legality of the hospital transparency rule. With additional legal challenges expected, theHealth Care PRICE Transparency Actwould codify these rules to overcome these challenges and allow patients to make cost conscious health care decisions. TheHealth Care PRICE Transparency Actwould requirehospitalsto: Provide patients with clear, accessible information about their ""standard charges"" for the items and services they provide, including through the use of standardized data elements, making it easier to shop and compare across hospitals, as well as mitigating surprises; Make public all hospital standard charges (including the gross charges, negotiated rates and charges, the amount the hospital is willing to accept in cash from a patient) for all items and services on the Internet in a single data file that can be read by other computer systems (i.e., machine readable format); and. Make public negotiated rates and charges, cash prices, etc. in a manner that is consumer-friendly and up-to-date. TheHealth Care PRICE Transparency Actwould requireinsurersto: Give consumers real-time, personalized access to cost-sharing informationincluding an estimate of their cost-sharing liability for all covered health care items and services; Publish this information online and available to all of their beneficiaries, and in paper form, at the beneficiaries' request empowering consumers to shop and compare costs between specific providers before receiving care; and, Disclose on a public website their negotiated rates for in-network providers and allowed amounts paid for out-of-network providers. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-22-million-support-affordable-housing-efforts-maine-amid-covid-19,Senator Collins Announces $2.2 Million to Support Affordable Housing Efforts in Maine Amid COVID-19,2020-08-15,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a total of $2,228,481 to public housing agencies across the state to support affordable housing and bolster COVID-19 prevention and response efforts throughout the State of Maine. This second installment of supplemental funding was awarded througha provision of the CARES Act that Senator Collins authoredthat directed $48.5 billion to support transportation and housing programs throughout the country. To fight the COVID-19 pandemic, additional resources are vital to help bolster Maine's housing programs that serve the most vulnerable members of our society,said Senator Collins. This important funding will support affordable housing and bolster COVID-19 prevention and response efforts throughout Maine. The funding was awarded through the Housing Choice and Voucher (HCV) Program and was allocated as follows: Van Buren Housing Authorityreceived $12,206 Fort Fairfield Housing Authorityreceived $20,187 Portland Housing Authorityreceived $435,158 Presque Isle Housing Authorityreceived $12,049 Lewiston Housing Authorityreceived $194,281 Brunswick Housing Authorityreceived $70,841 Auburn Housing Authorityreceived $93,376 Waterville Housing Authorityreceived $59,889 Housing Authority City of Bangorreceived $74,342 Sanford Housing Authorityreceived $121,374 The Housing Authority of the City of Westbrookreceived $224,685 Old Town Housing Authorityreceived $36,357 Bath Housing Authorityreceived $27,546 South Portland Housing Authorityreceived $88,649 Brewer Housing Authorityreceived $22,610 Caribou Housing Authorityreceived $28,948 Ellsworth Housing Authorityreceived $58,306 Biddeford Housing Authorityreceived $32,207 Augusta Housing Authorityreceived $69,761 Maine State Housing Authorityreceived $547,909 The HCV Program provides funding to public housing agencies to maintain normal operations and take other necessary actions as they continue to be impacted by COVID-19. The total CARES Act supplemental appropriations for the HCV Program is $1.25 billion. The second allocation of CARES Act appropriations for the HCV Program is approximately $472 million in supplemental administrative fees. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-512-million-puritan-medical-products-retrofit-new-facility-boost,"Senator Collins Announces $51.2 Million for Puritan Medical Products to Retrofit New Facility, Boost Production of COVID-19 Test Swabs, and Hire Additional Employees",2020-08-14,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that Puritan Medical Products, a medical supplies manufacturer based in Guilford, has been awarded $51.2 million to expand its COVID-19 flock tip testing swab production. This award was funded through the CARES Act and will be used to significantly increase production of flock tip swabs to 50 million per month. This builds on a $75.5 million contract awarded to Puritan in April, which was used to double production of foam swabs to 40 million per month. Together, these contracts bring Puritan's total production of flock tip swabs and foam swabs to at least 90 million per month as well as allow the company to hire additional employees. This substantial investment at Puritan is going to make a real difference in the lives of people in Maine and throughout the country. Increasing the production of COVID-19 swabs to at least 90 million per month will provide a tremendous boost to testing efforts, helping to reduce the spread of the virus and allowing us to safely reopen communities,said Senator Collins. I commend Puritan's hardworking employees, and I am proud that this manufacturing that is so critical to the health of our nation is happening right here in our great state. The CARES Act, which Senator Collins voted for, included $1 billion for the Defense Production Act in order to increase domestic production capacity for materials necessary to combat COVID-19 as well as more than $140 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services to combat COVID-19. This new award was funded from appropriations provided to HHS by the CARES Act. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins worked to secure a $75.5 million investment for Puritan using Defense Production Act funds in April, which increased Puritan's production of testing swabs, created 150 new jobs, and helped to build a modern manufacturing facility in Pittsfield. Bath Iron Works supplied 30 of the 40 machines needed to make the new swabs. Senator Collins also visited and toured Puritan's existing manufacturing facility in Guilford to thank the employees for all of their hard work producing testing supplies that are vital to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and safely re-open the economy. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-meets-leadership-immigrant-resource-center-maine,Senator Collins Meets with Leadership from Immigrant Resource Center of Maine,2020-08-14,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE for a high-resolution photo Lewiston, ME U.S. Senator Susan Collins met with Fatuma Hussein, the Executive Director of the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine, in her Lewiston Constituent Service Center. As the Chairman of the Aging Committee, Senator Collins held the Senate's first hearing on the disparate health impacts of COVID-19 on seniors from racial and ethnic minority communities and steps that we can take to help address health inequities, including supporting community partnerships and culturally and linguistically appropriate services for immigrant communities. Fatuma provided helpful expertise and insight in preparation for that hearing, and I appreciate her ongoing advocacy on behalf of Maine's immigrant communities, said Senator Collins. I look forward to our continued work together to help all Mainers access the education and resources they need to achieve their full potential. The Immigrant Resource Center of Maine has received federal funding through the CARES Act, legislation supported by Senator Collins, to distribute masks in their community during the coronavirus pandemic. Since 2014, the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine has received approximately $300,000 every two years through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services Program. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has continuously worked to secure funding for this program, which helps to provide culturally specific programming for victims of VAWA crimes. Formerly known as the United Somali Women of Maine, the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine was founded in 2001 to support refugee and immigrant communities by offering culturally and linguistically sensitive services to promote a healthy and equitable Maine. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-200000-northstar-emergency-medical-services,"Senators Collins, King Announce $200,000 for NorthStar Emergency Medical Services",2020-08-14,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that NorthStar Emergency Medical Services, an affiliate of MaineHealth's Franklin Memorial Hospital, has been awarded $200,000 to support rural emergency medical services throughout Franklin County. This funding supports the dedicated staff at NorthStar Emergency Medical Services by expanding EMS personnel and strengthening medical training programs, including mental health and substance use treatment programs, allowing individuals and families in Franklin County to receive high quality care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We will continue our efforts to boost resources for Maine's health system to help protect the health and safety of all Mainers and ensure that those in rural communities have access to quality care during this public health crisis. The funding, which was awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Center for Flex Grants Program, aims to increase recruitment, training, and retention of EMS personnel by implementing recruitment and training programs, provide EMS personnel with training to understand, and provide safe, stigma free treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and ensure EMS personnel have the equipment and training tools needed to provide high quality care throughout the county.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-casey-unveil-new-report-barriers-women-face-retirement-security,"Collins, Casey Unveil New Report on Barriers Women Face to Retirement Security",2020-08-13,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE to read the GAO's report Washington, D.C.There is an estimated $7.1 trillion gap between what Americans are projected to have saved for retirement and what they will actually need. On average, women face a larger retirement savings gap than men and experience higher poverty rates at older ages. To better understand what can be done to improve women's retirement security, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob Casey (D-PA), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Aging Committee, requested a report from the Government Accountability Office analyzing the unique hurdles women face as they prepare for retirement. The report, which Senators Collins and Casey released today, includes the views of older women expressed in 14 focus groups and examines data related to financial security of older women. 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. Improving women's retirement security is a significant public policy challenge that requires us to work together to find common ground. After spending years in the workforce and caring for loved ones, women should be able to enter retirement with the confidence that they will be able to live comfortably and maintain their independence as they age. All Americans should be able to achieve financial security in retirement, said Senator Casey. As today's report illustrates, too many Americans are struggling to save, and women face substantial additional challenges that make it more difficult to financially prepare for retirement. This report further emphasizes the need to strengthen and protect Social Security and Medicare, secure workers' pensions and eliminate pay disparities to ensure that all women are able to be economically secure as they age. The GAO has found that women are more likely than men to take time away from work to raise children or care for a child or spouse, which has implications for retirement savings, including Social Security benefits, pensions, and defined contribution plan savings. Women also have higher average life expectancy, resulting in higher expected lifetime health care costs and a greater risk of outliving retirement savings. A woman born in 2020 who reaches age 65 can expect to live to age 90 on average, while a man who reaches age 65 can expect to live to age 88 on average. In all of the focus groups, women described some level of anxiety about their retirement security. Participants identified several barriers to achieving retirement security, including divorce, widowhood, pay inequality, and caregiving responsibilities. In discussing other hindrances to retirement security, they highlighted the lack of personal financial education, indicating that financial education, beginning in kindergarten and continuing through college, would have helped them achieve greater financial security in retirement. According to the survey data, households with older women that lacked a defined benefit pension plan or a retirement account were more likely to report low retirement confidence. As the women participating in GAO's focus groups noted, a lack of personal financial education about savings, investing, enrolling in Medicare, and claiming Social Security can hinder retirement security.In 2019, Senators Collins and Casey held a hearing on the financial security of seniors in retirement and in 2018 held a hearing on the critical decisions seniors face when they turn 65. In 2016, the Committee explored ways seniors can maximize Social Security benefits. Additionally, the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, which Senators Collins and Casey authored, includes a provision requiring the continued operations of the National Resource Center for Women and Retirement. This center provides basic financial management, retirement planning, and other educational tools that promote women's financial literacy. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-calls-usps-address-delays-mail-delivery,Senator Collins Calls on USPS to Address Delays in Mail Delivery,2020-08-13,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. In a letter to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, U.S. Senator Susan Collins called on him to promptly address the delays in mail deliveryincluding prescriptions, personal protective equipment, payments, and other essential itemsthat have occurred following recent operational changes. Throughout its 245-year history, the USPS has played a vital role in bringing our country together and moving our economy forward. The Postal Service allows us to remain connected with family and friends and helps small businesses reach their customers, wrote Senator Collins. The USPS continues to be a lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for seniors, veterans, and those in rural areas who are depending on reliable mail delivery for essential goods and services that might otherwise be unavailable. I share the goal of putting the USPS back on a financially sustainable path; however, this goal cannot be achieved by shortchanging service to the public, Senator Collins continued. If left unaddressed, these recent service issues will not only harm my constituents who are counting on timely receipt of mail and packages, but also undermine public trust in the USPS and ultimately harm its long-term financial viability. Senator Collins has continuously worked to find common ground on reforms to enable the USPS to reduce operating costs, modernize its business model, and innovate to generate new revenue, without harming its workers or compromising its ability to fulfill the universal service obligation. To help the USPS remain strong amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Collins introduced the bipartisan Postal Service Emergency Assistance Act and is leading efforts to include needed relief for the USPS in the next COVID-19 package. Click HERE to read the full letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-lewiston-auburn-chamber-commerce-breakfast,Senator Collins Joins Lewiston-Auburn Chamber of Commerce Breakfast,2020-08-13,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for high-resolution photos Auburn, Maine This morning, U.S. Senator Susan Collins attended an in person and virtual breakfast at the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce this morning. She discussed the need to overcome today's polarized political environment to protect Mainers' health and the economy during the pandemic as well as deliver relief for our state and our nation. She also participated in a Q&A session. The meeting was attended by approximately 35 people, with an additional 65 individuals joining virtually. Business leaders in Lewiston-Auburn are working hard every day to keep their businesses afloat and their employees paid during the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Collins said. It was heartening to hear what a lifeline the PPP has been for so many of these wonderful small businesses. Congress must build on the PPP's success, and pass the legislation Senator Rubio and I authored to allow the hardest hit small businesses to receive a second PPP loan. Congress should continue to build on its efforts to pass relief for hardworking families by starting with the areas where we agree and getting them quickly signed into law. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck earlier this year, Senator Collins immediately got to work to address this public health and economic crisis. As a member of the Small Business Task Force, she co-authored the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which passed the Senate unanimously, and has been a lifeline to millions of small employers and their employees across the country. Since its launch in early April, the PPP has provided nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable loans to more than 28,000 Maine small businesses -- helping to sustain 240,000 Maine jobs. At today's breakfast, Senator Collins also officially receive the Jefferson-Hamilton Bipartisanship Award, which recognizes members of Congress who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward. The L-A Chamber serves 800 members in nearly 1,000 locations, representing more than 40 employers across the region. They serve 16 communities and beyond. The Chamber has increased connections with and across sectors during the pandemic, holding frequent membershipand advocacy calls that engage hundreds of members and provide real-time updates on business priorities, concerns, and solutions. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-blackie%E2%80%99s-farm-fresh-produce-auburn,Senator Collins Visits Blackies Farm Fresh Produce in Auburn,2020-08-13,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for high-resolution photos Auburn, ME U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Blackie's Farm Fresh Produce in Auburn this morning to meet with owner Matt Manson, employees, and customers. Blackie's Farm Fresh Produce received a forgivable loan through the Paycheck Protection Program that Senator Collins co-authored to help small employers continue to pay their workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Blackie's Farm Fresh Produce is a staple in the Auburn community, working with local farmers to ensure that Mainers can safely access fresh produce during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Senator Collins. I am thrilled that Blackie's was awarded a forgivable PPP loan, which allowed Matt to continue paying his dedicated staff despite disruptions caused by the coronavirus. The farm stand was established in 1986 by Normand Blackie Labbe Sr and his wife, Jackie. Blackie grew his own produce on his 120 acre farm in Minot, while purchasing from and supporting several farms throughout Maine. Prior to Blackie's passing in February 2018, he and Matt spoke often of Matt's desire to purchase the farm stand and continue to grow produce on the farm. The sale was finalized this winter and the farm stand still employs members of Blackie's family. Matt has worked on Blackie's farm since he was a teenager. Earlier this week, Senator Collins announced that Maine farmers have been awarded more than $14 million to date through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to help offset the financial harm they have experienced due to COVID-19. The USDA is continuing to accept applications from farmers through September 11. More information aboutCFAPand the application process can be found here:Farmers.gov/cfap. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-strainrite-companies-auburn,Senator Collins Visits The Strainrite Companies in Auburn,2020-08-13,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Auburn, Maine Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited The Strainrite Companies, a liquid filtration products manufacturing company in Auburn, to tour the facility, answer employees' questions, and provide an update on the federal government's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During her visit, Senator Collins was accompanied by Alan Lapoint, owner of Strainrite and Chair of the Manufacturers Association of Maine (MAME). As an employee-owned company, Strainrite exemplifies Maine's entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to quality, said Senator Collins. The coronavirus pandemic has caused great disruption to our society, especially to Maine's small businesses, which make up nearly 60 percent of our state's workforce. From designing and manufacturing liquid filtration products to taking extra precautions to protect staff and customers, the dedicated employees of Strainrite have stepped up to meet the challenge. The Paycheck Protection Program is a lifeline for small businesses in Maine and throughout the country, continued Senator Collins. As we continue to combat this public health and economic crisis, I have been working with my colleagues to extend the PPP to allow the hardest hit small businesses to receive additional loans and expand forgivable expenses to include facility modifications and personal protective equipment to ensure the safety of employees and customers. Strainrite, along with Alan's two other companies, Geary's Brewing and New England Nonwovens, received a forgivable loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Senator Collins co-authored the PPP to help small employers continue to keep paying their workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its launch in early April, more than 28,000 Maine small businesses and self-employed individuals have received nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable loans, which has helped to support approximately 240,000 jobs throughout the state. Established in 1978, Strainrite designs and manufactures an extensive selection of liquid filtration products. Strainrite's filtration products are used to ensure final fluid product quality, protect equipment, and improve process yields in many industries including printing, beverages, biopharmaceuticals, electronics, and oil and gas. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-tex-tech-industries-north-monmouth,Senator Collins Visits Tex Tech Industries in North Monmouth,2020-08-13,2020,2020-08,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for a high-resolution photo North Monmouth, ME This afternoon, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Tex Tech Industries in North Monmouth to tour the manufacturing facility and meet with employees from their accounting, operations, human resources, and administrative teams. For more than a century, Tex Tech Industries, headquartered in Maine, has been a global leader in engineering high-performance textiles and materials that are instrumental in protecting the dedicated men and women of our nation's military and law enforcement, and improving commercial air travel safety, said Senator Collins. At this critical time in our country's history, American people need to see that we are still a nation of vision, energy, and determination. The manufacturing being done right her in Kennebec County is setting that example on a global scale, showing that Maine is home to some of the most talented engineers, the best workers, and the most creative people in the world. For these reasons, I will continue to work to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States. In 2010, Senator Collins worked with Tex Tech to secure a $3.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense for the development of Ballistic CORE Technology, which provides enhanced protection for military and law enforcement personnel. Since 1904, Tex Tech has grown to be one of the world's leading needle and woven felt manufacturers, producing products involving aerospace, ballistics, automotive, filtration, as well as tennis ball felt. Headquartered in Portland, this global company also operates facilities in Utah, North Carolina, South Carolina and Arizona, as well as in Thailand, China, England, and Ireland. Their flagship manufacturing facility in North Monmouth covers 260,000 sq. ft. and is home to the Technical and Research and Development centers. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z