Senator Collins Introduces Child Care Safety Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins today introduced the Child Care Infant Mortality
Prevention Act, a bill intended to prevent Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) by increasing provider training in sleep practices, first aid, and CPR in the Child Care Development Block Grant. The bipartisan bill, introduced with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), would also require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update and provide training, instructional materials, prevention strategies and other information on safe sleep practices to the public.

"Simple steps can and must be taken to reduce the terrifying and largely preventable tragedy of sudden infant deaths," Senator Collins said. "This bill puts the health and safety of infants at the forefront of child care by ensuring that basic strategies to enhance child safety are adopted and followed by the public and in the child care industry."

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), SUID affects approximately 4,000 infants each year, half of which are due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of death for infants aged 1-12 months. In addition, in 2010, 629 of SUID deaths were caused by accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. The Child Care Infant Mortality Prevention Act seeks to eliminate needless SUID deaths by assisting states in improving the overall quality of child care services. The bill also promotes the dissemination of health guidelines and training proposed by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics designed to reduce the risk of SUID.

Senator Collins Introduces New Bill to Support Victims of Fort Hood Shooting

WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Senator Susan Collins today introduced the Honoring the Fort Hood Heroes Act, legislation to honor and support the victims of the Nov. 5, 2009 Fort Hood shooting. Sen. Collins was joined in introducing the bill by U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Jerry Moran (R-KS). A companion version of the Honoring the Fort Hood Heroes Act has been introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. John R. Carter (R-TX 31) and Roger Williams (R-TX 25).

"This attack should rightly be categorized as an act of terrorism, and I believe strongly that service members wounded or killed at Fort Hood, or as a result of a terror attack irrespective of geographic location, are deserving of the same recognition and benefits as their deployed counterparts in combat zones," said Senator Susan Collins, who, when serving as the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, completed an investigation with then-Chairman Senator Joe Lieberman into the shootings

"The wheels of justice have turned too slowly for the victims of the terrorist attack at Fort Hood four years ago. We must direct our attention to the people who deserve it, and that is the victims and their families. As a nation, we have a sacred obligation to take care of them," Sen. Cornyn said.

"This is the additional piece of the actual justice due-beyond the conviction and sentencing of Nidal Hasan.