VIDEO SPECIAL: Susan Collins Announces her Intention Not To Run For Governor Of Maine.

Rockport Maine- Senator Susan Collins announced her intention to stay with the senate rather than run for governor of Maine.  She believes that she can do much more good by staying in the senate.

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Senator Collins Chairs Third Hearing to Investigate Egregious Price Hikes on Decades-old Prescription Drugs

U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, recently held the third hearing in a series the Committee conducted to investigate the sudden, aggressive price spikes of decades-old prescription drugs.  Through its bipartisan investigation, Senator Collins’ Committee uncovered the monopoly business model companies like Valeant Pharmaceuticals use to identify and strategically acquire drugs that they can then exploit at the expense of patients, health care providers, private insurance plans, and federal health care programs.  Senator Collins recently penned a column on this topic. 

Soaring Prices on Decades-old Drugs

By Sen. Susan M. Collins 

"Berna Heyman, a retired college librarian from Williamsburg, Virginia, has Wilson disease, an inherited disorder that prevents copper from being excreted from the body, allowing dangerous accumulations. Untreated, it can cause serious liver, brain, and eye problems and even lead to death. Treated, the individual can live a normal life. 
 
"There are, however, very few medicines that can treat Wilson disease. The main drugs are Syprine and Cuprimine. 
 
"For years, Mrs. Heyman took Syprine, which worked well for her. Then Valeant Pharmaceuticals purchased Syprine and hiked its price from $652 for a monthly supply to an outrageous $21,267. The company bought Cuprimine, too, and jacked up its price by nearly 6,000 percent.  Suddenly, Mrs. Heyman could no longer afford the copay on the medicine that she needed to avoid the terrible consequences of Wilson disease. She and her doctor searched frantically for an alternative and for financial assistance. 
 
"Valeant didn't spend a penny in research and development for Syprine and Cuprimine. Their manufacturing costs didn't go up. So why did Valeant jack up the prices of these two life-saving drugs?  Greed. 
 
"The Senate Aging Committee, which I chair, recently held a hearing on Valeant Pharmaceuticals and the sky-high price increases it imposed on Syprine and Cuprimine, as well as for two other drugs it controls: Nitropress and Isuprel.  Valeant has increased the prices of all four drugs by hundreds or even thousands of percentage points.  This was the third in a series of hearings the Committee has held regarding egregious price spikes for decades-old prescription drugs as part of a months-long bipartisan investigation.  
 
..

"Developing drugs is usually an enormously time-consuming, expensive, and uncertain process. It often takes more than a decade to bring a new drug from the laboratory to the market, and estimates of the average cost of doing so range from hundreds of millions of dollars to well over a billion dollars. Moreover, the chance a new drug will succeed is highly uncertain. If we want new medicines to reach consumers who need them, the companies that invest in the research and take the risks necessary to develop these drugs must see a fair return on their investment.
 
"But the kind of price manipulation carried out by Valeant is a market failure with real consequences for patients like Mrs. Heyman. It has consequences for doctors who are treating individuals who need these drugs. It has consequences for our hospitals at a time when they are trying to lower health care costs, and they can’t control the cost of these drugs that they desperately need to treat their patients. This abuse of pricing is also a failure of the processes we have in the federal government to try to incentivize lower-priced generics to come to market and compete with such monopoly drugs. 
 
"To protect the American public, Congress must act to address this price manipulation.  We need policy reforms, such as the bipartisan legislation I have introduced with the Ranking Member of the Aging Committee, Senator Claire McCaskill, to fast-track the approval of certain generic drugs, especially those that could compete with decades-old drugs that are vulnerable to the abusive pricing we have seen from Valeant and certain other companies.  Our investigation has exposed the problem; we must now work to get solutions so that patients like Mrs. Heyman can access the lifesaving treatment they need."

Click HERE to read Senator Collins' column in its entirety.

NEW

Designer Fashion by Maine Artist

Doug Mills

With over 40 years in the arts he brings a wealth of artistic expression to his new designer fashions.  Doug's photos will transport you to a place where life is simple and the unspoiled beauty will take your breath away.

VIEW THE DOUG MILLS COLLECTION

Following Review of Navy Yard Shootings, Collins-McCaskill Renew Call for Overhaul of Security Clearance Process

   WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) today renewed their call for consideration of legislation they authored that would implement an automated review of public records and databases for any information that might affect the security clearance status of individuals who have such a clearance.  This comes after the Department of Defense (DoD) today released the results of internal and independent reviews of security at its facilities and the security clearance process.

            In October, Senators Collins, McCaskill, Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), introduced a bill that would require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to implement an automated review that would search public records and databases for information on every individual with a security clearance at least twice, at random times, every five years. These audits would identify information these individuals are already obligated by law to disclose including information relating to any criminal or civil legal proceeding; financial information relating to the covered individual; data maintained on any terrorist or criminal watch list; and any publicly-available information that suggests ill intent, vulnerability to blackmail, compulsive behavior, allegiance to another country, or change in ideology of the covered individual.

            If, in the course of a randomly timed audit required under the Senators’ bill, the review finds any information pertinent to security clearance, the OPM would be required to notify the agency employing the individual—allowing the agency to follow the procedures already in current law to make an informed determination as to the individual’s ongoing employment, level of clearance, and access to classified information.

            “As these reviews have found, there is a gaping hole in the current security clearance process that has enabled people who exhibit obvious signs of high-risk behavior to remain undetected,” said Senator Collins, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and former Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.  
“There needs to be a balance between the processing of clearances quickly enough to allow individuals to do their jobs, but also thoroughly enough to flag potential problems.  Our legislation represents a sensible path forward to protect national security and to help prevent future tragedies.”
             “Today’s report further highlights the systemic failures in the current process that are jeopardizing our ability to protect our nation’s secrets and our secure facilities,” said Senator McCaskill, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Senator Collins and I recognize the need for greater oversight in our security clearance process and our bill is aimed at doing just that.” 

Honoring Margaret Chase Smith

Fifty years ago yesterday, on January 27, 1964, Margaret Chase Smith of Maine announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for President.  In July of that year, she became the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the Presidency at a major political party's national convention.
Senator Susan Collins delivered a speech on the Senate floor today commemorating this anniversary and Margaret Chase Smith's lasting legacy in Maine and America.
Senator Collins first met Senator Smith in 1971.  At the time, Senator Collins was a senior at Caribou High School participating in the United States Senate Youth Program. She met with Senator Smith in her Washington, D.C. office.
Following is text from a portion of Senator Collins' remarks on the Senate floor today:

Fifty years ago today, on January 27th, 1964, Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine announced her candidacy for President of the United States. The following July, at the Republican National Convention in San Francisco, the Great Lady from Maine became the first woman to have her name entered into nomination by a major party for our nation's highest office. I rise to commemorate this remarkable leader and this significant milestone in American history.
At the time of her announcement, Senator Smith was in her twenty-fourth year in Congress and was an established groundbreaker. She was the first woman elected to both the House and the Senate, and the first to serve on the Armed Services Committee. She was the woman who gave other women the opportunity to have careers in the military. Due to her early and energetic support for the space program, she was called the woman who put a man on the moon.
Her courageous "Declaration of Conscience," delivered in the Senate on June 1st, 1950, turned the tide against McCarthyism and reminded all Americans of our nation's core values of free expression and independent thought.
Senator Smith made her presidential announcement in a speech at the Women's National Press Club in Washington. It was an important address, in which she described both the progress America had made against hatred, bigotry, and extremism, and the challenges that remained.
But she saved the best for last. After telling her audience of the flood of letters she had been receiving from all over the country urging her to run for president, Senator Smith described the reasons offered by her supporters. Such as, she had more experience at the national level than the other confirmed candidates. She had the stature that could break the barrier against women being seriously considered for president. She would provide a moderate, middle-of-the-road option in an election that was shaping up as one between conservative and liberal philosophies.
Then she described the reasons she should not run - the widespread contention that the presidency was a man's job, her lack of financial resources and a professional political organization, and the fact that the odds were heavily against her.
Senator Smith said she found the reasons offered against running far more compelling than those in favor. So imagine the audience's surprise when she said that, because of those reasons, she had decided to enter the New Hampshire primary.
Her campaign was off and running, and what a campaign it was. Senator Smith accepted no money from anyone - all contributions, large and small, were returned to sender. She took to the campaign trail only when the Senate was not in session in order to preserve her perfect record of never missing a roll -call vote and to keep the pledge of dedicated service she had made to the people of Maine. Her campaign motto was, "There is nothing more effective than a handshake and a little conversation."
As a consequence of her self-imposed financial and time restrictions, Senator Smith did not win a primary, but in the one primary where she was able to campaign somewhat extensively - Illinois, for all of two weekends and a total cost of $85 - she finished a strong second in a field of six, losing only to the eventual nominee, Barry Goldwater. With 25 percent of the vote, she came in far ahead of such well-known candidates as Richard Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, and Henry Cabot Lodge. It is intriguing to think what she could have done with a more traditional campaign.
At the Republican National Convention that year, Senator Smith's name was entered into nomination by Senator George Aiken of Vermont. He told the delegates that Senator Smith's integrity, ability, common sense, and courage made her "the best qualified person you ever voted for." On the first ballot, 27 delegates did vote for Margaret Chase Smith.
Unlike the other candidates, Senator Smith did not release her delegates to the landslide victor, Senator Goldwater. This was not done out of spite - she campaigned for him earnestly in the general election - but because she wanted the historical record to show that a woman had been given serious consideration for the presidency.
Many words have been spoken over many years in attempts to describe the character of Senator Margaret Chase Smith. Perhaps the best were offered by the candidate herself on that campaign trail a half-century ago: "I have few illusions and no money, but I'm staying for the finish. When people keep telling you, you can't do a thing, you kind of like to try." On this milestone anniversary, I am honored to celebrate an extraordinary Maine woman who tried and failed in one endeavor, but, in so doing, inspired generations of Americans with her strength and determination, and demonstrated, as she once said, that a woman's place is "everywhere."

Senator Collins Receives "Legislator of the Year Award" from Congressional Fire Services Institute

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, has received the "Legislator of the Year Award" from the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI). CFSI, a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute established in 1989 which seeks to promote Congress' awareness of the needs of first responders, presented the award to Senator Collins in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

The Award is a distinction given to a member of Congress who the organization deems to have made a "significant contribution to the fire service." CFSI said Senator Collins was given this award because of her legislative efforts to support firefighters, including her support of the U.S. Fire Administration Reauthorization Act, the Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act, and the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Reauthorization Act. In addition, Senator Collins has long been an advocate of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which has provided invaluable funding for Maine fire departments to update their equipment and improve training and safety.

"It is our honor to present this award to a member of Congress who has stood with us for so many years. Senator Collins is a tireless advocate for firefighters in her home state of Maine and across the entire nation," said Bill Webb, CFSI's Executive Director. "Her leadership and commitment to public safety have made a difference on so many issues, enabling legislation to move through the Senate that have had a direct benefit on our nation's fire and emergency services."

"Our nation's career and volunteer firefighters are among our brave first responders, constantly putting themselves in harm's way to help keep our communities safe," Senator Collins said. "We can only dimly grasp the skill and discipline it takes to rescue and tend to a fire or an accident victim in the midst of confusion and danger. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and we must continue to work to help ensure that they are kept as safe as possible as they protect each of us."

Christening of USNS Millinocket

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today applauded the official christening of the USNS Millinocket, the first naval vessel to be named in honor of the Towns of Millinocket and East Millinocket, Maine. According to the U.S. Navy, the USNS Millinocket will follow in the tradition of the USS Stephen W. Groves, which was decommissioned on February 24, 2012. Stephen Groves was a 25 year old Navy Ensign from East Millinocket who died in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942, during World War II.

“Today’s christening is a proud moment for the State of Maine and particularly for the towns of Millinocket and East Millinocket,” said Senator King. “Not only is it a remarkable gesture, but it’s also an outstanding tribute to the sacrifice of Maine’s communities and the valor of our servicemen and women in defending our country. It’s an honor to know that a Navy ship will now again patrol the world’s seas bearing the name of a community whose strength is emblematic of our great state.”

“You will find the connection forged today with the residents of Millinocket will be strong, and I am pleased that this Joint High Speed Vessel will carry on Maine’s proud maritime legacy. Mainers take care of their own, and the USNS Millinocket is part of our family,” said Senator Collins.

BACKGROUND: The USNS Millinocket is the first naval vessel to be named in honor of Millinocket and East Millinocket, Maine. Built in Mobile, Alabama, the ship will follow in the tradition of the USS Stephen W. Groves, a guided missile frigate built at Bath Iron Works, which was decommissioned on February 24, 2012 after nearly 30 years of active service. The USS Groves was named after Stephen Groves, a 1934 graduate of Schenck High School in East Millinocket and a 1939 graduate of the University of Maine. Ensign Groves, who was killed during the Battle of Midway, was the first serviceman from East Millinocket to lose his life during World War II.

Upon delivery to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC), Millinocket will be designated as a United States Naval Ship and will have a core crew of 21 civilian mariners who will operate and navigate the ship. The first four Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) – including Millinocket – will be crewed by federally employed civil service mariners, and the remaining six will be crewed by civilian contract mariners working for private shipping companies under contract to MSC. Military mission personnel will embark, as required, by the mission sponsors.

The 338 foot-long aluminum catamaran is ideal for fast, intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles, supplies and equipment. The ship is capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots and can operate in austere ports and waterways, providing U.S. forces added mobility and flexibility. The JHSVs also have an aviation flight deck to support day and night air vehicle launch and recovery operations. JHSVs have berthing space for up to 104 personnel and airline-style seating for up to 312.

$160,000 in Fire Department Grants

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that three Maine fire departments will receive grant awards: Cushing Fire Department will receive $68,096; Standish Fire and Emergency Medical Service will receive $42,750; and Gouldsboro Fire Department will receive $52,155. 

“These grants are a valuable source of funding for our fire and rescue personnel, and we have seen firsthand the dramatic difference they make, especially in small, rural communities,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “This federal funding will help the fire departments to purchase equipment and vehicles and to conduct the training and exercises necessary for rescue personnel to perform their jobs well and keep our communities safe.”  

All three fire departments are receiving the funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG).  Specifically, the funding will come through AFG’s Operations and Firefighting Safety Program, which provides funding for training, equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to the departments’ facilities.

Weatherization Assistance: U.S. Senators Urge Obama Administration To Take Action

Senators Reed and Collins Seek to Save Weatherization Assistance Program
U.S. Senators urge Obama Administration to take action

WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to put federal dollars to good use making homes energy efficient and creating jobs, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators led by Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are urging the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to take action and use its authority to prevent the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) from shriveling up and leaving millions of Americans out in the cold.  Through grants to states working with community partners, WAP has successfully weatherized 7.3 million low-income homes, helping low-income families reduce their energy bills by upgrading insulation and making energy-saving improvements to heating, cooling, and electrical systems.

WAP funding was slashed from $174 million in 2011 to $68 million in fiscal year 2012 because DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE) still had funds left over from the Recovery Act.  These funds have now been expended.  But the $68 million level of funding was extended to 2013 because Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR), and the program may now be cut another 5 percent or more due to the sequester and other across the board reductions.  If this happens, thousands fewer homes will be weatherized, eligible families will lose potential energy savings, and there could be a significant loss of full-time employment for a large number of skilled weatherization workers.

Collins, King Seek to Level the Playing Field for Maine’s Foresters

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), along with Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR), Roy Blunt (R-MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT),  today introduced the Forest Products Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill that provides new opportunities for American forestry producers by allowing their products to qualify for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s BioPreferred Program.

The USDA BioPreferred Program was created to provide new markets for farm commodities and encourage consumers to purchase environmentally-friendly biobased products. Despite the sustainability of wood, pulp and paper products, the USDA has not designated these products as a USDA Certified Biobased Products.  The Forest Products Fairness Act would allow domestic forestry products to be labeled as biobased so they could receive increased consumer attention as well as federal government procurement preference. This designation would also level the playing field between domestically-produced wood products and imported products such as Chinese bamboo, which is already eligible for the biobased label and used as a “green” alternative for hardwood flooring or lumber.

“From timber to paper and pulp, Maine’s vast forest land is a tremendous source of value for our state’s economy and way of life,” Collins said.  “I strongly support this bill because it would help dramatically expand the market for our domestic forest products by rightfully creating a level playing field with other biobased and foreign products.”

“Maine is one of the most forested states in the nation and our forest-based industry plays an instrumental role in the vitality of our state’s economy,” said King. “By finally labeling forest products as what they truly are – biobased products – this bipartisan, common-sense measure will level the playing field for Maine’s foresters and help them to continue thriving in the global economy.”

The BioPreferred Program was originally created by the 2002 Farm Bill to increase the purchase and use of biobased products.  Under the program, every federal agency is required to rank their preference of biobased products for purchasing decisions.  To increase consumer recognition of biobased products, the program also created voluntary labeling.  Since the program’s inception, the USDA has designated more 33 items, representing nearly 3,000 products, as biobased products.

Senators Udall, Collins to Introduce Bipartisan Plan to Strategically Implement Otherwise-Arbitrary Sequestration Cuts

Legislation Would Allow Executive Branch to Direct Cuts But Give House, Senate Appropriate Oversight

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Following the U.S. Senate's failure to pass either the Democratic or Republican proposals to avert the arbitrary, automatic, indiscriminate budget cuts, commonly called sequestration, Senators Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced that they will introduce a plan to allow the federal government to propose more targeted cuts while also allowing for appropriate congressional oversight.

            The bipartisan legislation would allow individual federal departments and agencies to propose how they each would more strategically implement the otherwise-thoughtless, automatic cuts. The bill would require that the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives appropriations committees work with the administration to provide oversight and ultimately approve the spending plans.

            "Blunt, shortsighted budget cuts are not the responsible way to reduce the deficit," Udall said. "This bipartisan plan ensures that the White House and Congress would work together to replace arbitrary cuts with smarter, focused spending reductions. Although I would have preferred that Congress had passed a comprehensive and balanced deficit-reduction plan to replace the sequester, the Udall-Collins plan is the only immediate way to temper the effects the sequester will have on our economy and national security."

            "Rather than dueling partisan plans that everyone knows have no chance of passing, our bipartisan plan would help mitigate the harmful effects of sequestration by allowing agency heads more flexibility to set priorities in reducing their budgets," Collins said. "While I continue to talk with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and with the White House, on how we could produce a sound, long-term fiscal plan to replace the indiscriminate cuts of sequestration, I believe our plan shows that it is possible to work together on a responsible, thoughtful plan to reduce our deficit, protect the jobs of hard-working Americans, and avoid mindless, meat-ax spending cuts."

            The Udall-Collins bill does the following:

• It empowers the executive branch to work with Congress and propose the best way to administer what would otherwise be automatic, arbitrary budget cuts required under the Budget Control Act;
• The Administration's spending proposal for a given department would be given to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees for review and approval, providing appropriate Congressional oversight and input.
• Finally, the legislation provides authorities for the Department of Defense to start new projects and programs that have been approved, but have been on hold due to the inability of Congress to adopt a full-year defense appropriations bill.

Army Corps of Engineers Awards $3.5 Million to Dredge Wells Harbor

WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has informed her that it intends to allocate $3.5 million in federal funding to complete the full dredging of Wells Harbor this fall during the fall /winter dredge availability 2013-2014 window. Since Wells Harbor sustained damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy, it was eligible for funding provided in the Supplemental Appropriations Act, which was signed into law on January 29th. The Army Corps is currently moving ahead with completing the coordination and developing plans and specifications for the project.

"The nation's small ports and harbors play an important role in local economies, and there is an ongoing need to address the maintenance backlog to ensure they are properly maintained and can continue to provide economic benefit locally, regionally, and nationally," said Senator Collins. "This is welcome news for the Town of Wells and will help provide economic benefits for the businesses that rely on the harbor for their operations."

Hurricane Sandy and other winter storms have created a large shoal at the entrance of the jetty to Wells Harbor, largely filling the navigation channel and settling basins, and have filled much of Well Harbor reducing its viability. According to the Town, during astronomical high tides, many of the slips in the harbor are no longer accessible.

It has become increasingly difficult for small dredging projects to compete for scarce operations and maintenance funds. As a member of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins has advocated for adequate funding for small ports and harbors and for funding to be set aside for the operation and maintenance of our nation's "small, remote, or subsistence harbors." Earlier this month, Senator Collins was joined by Senator Angus King (I-ME) in urging that the President's budget request for Fiscal Year 2014 include funding for Maine's federally authorized small harbors and waterways.

Senator Collins is also a cosponsor of The Harbor Maintenance Act (sometimes referred to as RAMP Act), sponsored by Senator Levin, which would help ensure that Harbor Maintenance Tax collected for maintaining and operating federal ports, harbors, and channels is fully used for its intended purposes.

Susan Collins Tours New Balance Factory in Norway

New Balance headquarters in Boston,

Collins Tours New Balance Factory in Norway, Invites Top Pentagon Acquisition Official to Visit
Collins urges Department of Defense to buy domestically made footwear

WASHINGTON, DC - In a letter sent today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins invited Frank Kendall, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, to visit one of the New Balance factories in Maine.  Senator Collins has urged the Department of Defense to consider the procurement of domestically manufactured footwear, such as New Balance products, for incoming service members.

"After visiting this facility, I am confident you will have an appreciation for the dedication of this U.S. work force and will develop confidence in the quality and cost-effectiveness of athletic shoes that are made in America," the letter reads.

Senator Collins today toured the New Balance Facility in Norway, ME and met with workers on the production floor.

Below is the full text of the letter:

Collins, King Call on President and Congress to Reach Agreement to Avert Sequester

Susan Collins, Angus King Call on President and Congress to Reach Agreement to Avert Sequester, Reduce Debt

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a letter sent to President Barack Obama today, Senators Susan Collins and Angus King call on the President to convene a meeting with Congressional leaders that must conclude with an agreement to avert sequestration and reduce our national debt.

In the letter, the Senators express deep concern over the impact that sequestration would have on national security, including the defense industrial base in Maine, and our nation's fragile economic recovery.

"Failure to avert such an outcome could have severe ramifications for our nation's shipbuilding industrial base, including Bath Iron Works in Maine, the nation's premier shipbuilder and employer of more than 5,000 workers," the Senators write.

"Urgency and resolve are critical.  We urge the President to convene a meeting, as soon as possible, with Congressional leaders to conclude an agreement to avert sequestration and set our nation on a sound fiscal path that both recognizes priorities and reduces our unsustainable $16.5 trillion debt."

Below is the full text of the letter, which was also sent to each member of the Congressional leadership:

Senator Collins Announces $3.5 Million in Additional Emergency Relief to Repair Maine Roads

Funding will help cover costs of repair to damage caused by June 2012 severe storms

WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the top Republican on the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) will provide $3.5 million in emergency relief to the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT).  This funding will help cover the cost of repair to roads in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Oxford and Sagadahoc Counties that were damaged by extreme runoff and flooding following heavy rains beginning on June 2, including Route 136 in Durham.

"The unusually strong storms and downpours last year caused flooding that has posed tremendous challenges to transportation infrastructure all across our state," Senator Collins said. "I am pleased that this emergency funding will be made available to help the Maine Department of Transportation cover the costs of repair to Route 136 and several other Maine roads that were hit especially hard by the heavy rains."

"I want to thank Senator Collins for her tireless efforts in helping to secure this emergency funding," said MaineDOT Commissioner David Bernhardt.  "No one better knows the challenges of our weather than Senator Collins.  Her willingness to act on behalf of all Mainers continues to define what it means to be from Maine."

This funding comes in addition to the initial $500,000 that Senator Collins announced last June which was also used to help repair Route 136 between Auburn and Freeport.

The Federal Emergency Relief Program, through U.S. DOT, helps states pay for the unusually heavy expenses for the repair and reconstruction of federal roads damaged by natural disaster or catastrophic failures.

Senator Collins' Statement Following State of the Union Address

Washington, D.C.  – Following President Obama’s State of the Union address this evening, Senator Susan Collins released this statement:

            “The 113th Congress faces extraordinary challenges as we work to grow our nation’s economy, lower the unemployment rate, seek both short-term and long-term ways to reduce federal spending to bring the national debt under control, and debate a host of other important issues. I appreciate that the President tonight called for members of both parties to work together to address these challenges and I hope that he is sincere in his desire to work with all of us.

             “Our national debt now stands at an almost incomprehensible $16.4 trillion.  That ever-increasing sum, along with rising interest payments, is our legacy to future generations.  The President outlined an ambitious agenda tonight, but I am concerned that he did not explain how he intends to pay for it without further burdening middle-income families and small businesses.

             “Unfortunately, Congress and the President have missed several opportunities to enact a long-term plan to stabilize our debt, and instead we again face automatic cuts of nearly $1 trillion from defense and non-defense programs in the federal budget.  This “meat-ax” approach would put our economy and national security in jeopardy and is the least responsible way to address our debt.

             "We have exhausted all the alternatives — excessive borrowing, budgetary gimmicks, the blame game, and all of the other attempts to avoid responsibility.  Now we are left with that quality of our national character that has seen us through crises throughout history— our resolve and our willingness to pull together.”

Senators Working Together! We Need More of This.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) announced today that they will be sitting next to one another during tomorrow’s State of the Union address.  Senator Collins is the senior Senator from Maine while Senator King is the junior Senator from Maine.

“Our country continues to face great challenges and we must work together in a bipartisan manner to find solutions.  Americans want us to come together and reach agreements in an atmosphere of mutual respect and good faith,” said Senator Collins.  “I am not only delighted to sit with Angus during the President’s State of the Union address, but I look forward to continuing to work closely with him on behalf of all Mainers.  This spirit of cooperation and willingness to work together is sorely needed in Washington, and it will help make the state of our union even stronger.”

“I could not be more pleased to sit next to Susan, my good friend and colleague from Maine, during my first State of the Union address,” said Senator King. “Since entering office in January, she has been an outstanding mentor and ally, offering me sound advice and valuable assistance. Most importantly, though, she understands, as I do, that we must set aside partisan politics to achieve what is best for Maine and the nation. I hope all our colleagues in Congress will pursue a similar collaborative course of bipartisanship as we begin our legislative session in 2013.”

Senator Collins' Statement on U.S. Postal Service's Intent

Senator Collins' Statement on U.S. Postal Service's Intent to Cut Service
WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Senator Susan Collins release the following statement today after the U.S. Postal Service announced it intends to end Saturday mail delivery this summer.

As former Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Collins was coauthor of a bipartisan bill, that passed the Senate last year, that would prohibit the Postal Service from eliminating Saturday delivery for at least two years.  Instead, the legislation would have required the USPS to embark on a two-year period of aggressive cost-cutting first, and then only allow this reduction in service if the Government Accountability Office and postal regulators both certify that elimination of Saturday delivery is necessary to achieve solvency.

"There is no doubt that the U.S. Postal Service is in a financial crisis.  It has been hit with falling mail volume, the recession, and the loss of customers to digital technology such as e-mail and online bill paying that has replaced traditional mail.  Cutting service should, however, be the last resort, not the Postal Service's first choice.  The Postal Service's decision to eliminate Saturday delivery is inconsistent with current law and threatens to further jeopardize its customer base.

In fact, in a report released in March 2011, the Postal Regulatory Commission found that the Postal Services' proposed savings from moving to five-day delivery were overly inflated by $1.4 billion dollars.  It also found that a reduction in delivery days will result in more lost revenue and fewer customers than the Postal Service had anticipated.  I have always been concerned that cutting service will drive more customers away, causing revenues to decline further, and thus ensuring that the Postal Service's financial free fall continues.

"The Postal Service is the linchpin of a $1 trillion mailing and mail-related industry that employs more than 8 million Americans in fields as diverse as direct mail, printing, catalog companies, magazine and newspaper publishing, and paper manufacturing. A healthy Postal Service is not just important to postal customers, but also to our national economy.  

"The fact is, nearly 80 percent of the Postal Service's costs are workforce-related and, as painful as it may be, finding a compassionate way to reduce these costs is simply unavoidable.  That is why the bill passed by the Senate in the last Congress provided for buyouts to reduce the workforce and sensible reforms in the postal workers' compensation program to save substantial money.  

"It is critical that the Postal Service try to preserve regular, dependable service.  I am disappointed that the Postal Service will only maintain six-day delivery for packages, post office boxes and priority mail.  The service upon which so many American families and businesses rely will only deteriorate with the end of six-day, first class mail delivery.  This may pose problems for newspapers that are mailed to customers, for seniors who rely on prescription drug deliveries, and for small businesses who send advertising flyers, among others.

"Last year, the Senate passed bipartisan postal reform legislation that former Senator Joe Lieberman, Senator Tom Carper, former Senator Scott Brown and I coauthored.  It's unfortunate that the House failed to act.  Our bill encouraged the Postal Service to operate more like a business: by cutting internal costs first instead of driving away customers with deep service cuts or steep price hikes."

MAINE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN OVER JOBS CORPS PROGRAM

WASHINGTON, DC –   In a letter to the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Maine Congressional Delegation today expressed deep concern over the budget shortfall facing the Jobs Corps program and the suspension of all new student enrollees at Job Corps centers across the country.  In the letter, Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree ask Acting Secretary Seth Harris for a full explanation of the reasons for the program’s budget shortfall and for a full explanation of the decision to suspend new enrollments. 

 “The purpose of Job Corps is to provide disadvantaged youth with the skills needed to obtain and hold a job, enter the Armed Forces, or enroll in advanced training or higher education. In addition to receiving academic and employment training, youth also engage in social skills training and other services to promote their overall well-being,” the letter reads.  “As you well know, Job Corps is a vital piece of our workforce development system and is often the only option for the youth who enroll.”

 There are two Jobs Corps centers in Maine: The Loring Jobs Corps Center in Limestone and the Penobscot Job Corps Center in Bangor.

 Below is full text of the letter:

Senators Collins and King Meet with Maine National Guard Leaders

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus S. King, Jr. today met with leaders of the Maine National Guard to discuss issues confronting the Maine Army and Air National Guard back in the state.  Senators Collins and King sat down with Maine Adjutant General, Brigadier General James Campbell; Maine Army Chief of Staff, Colonel Jack Mosher; and Construction and Facilities Management Officer, Lt. Colonel Dwaine Drummond, this morning in Senator Collins’ Washington, D.C. office.

Senator Collins said:
“Supporting the Maine National Guard, which serves our country so bravely, has always been one of my top priorities, and I certainly appreciated meeting with Brigadier General Campbell, Colonel Mosher, and Lt. Colonel Drummond this morning to discuss the challenges facing the Maine National Guard.  As a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, I will work hard to ensure that the Maine National Guard has the resources it needs to fulfill its noble and important mission.”

Senator King said:
“As a new Senator, and as a member of the Armed Services Committee, it was importantfor me to meet with Brigadier General Campbell, Colonel Mosher, and Lt. Colonel Drummond to gain a more thorough understanding of the issues confronting the Maine Army and Air National Guard.  One of our first priorities in Washington, as always, must be ensuringthat we are meeting the needs of those who are day in and day out bravely and selflessly serving Maine and our nation. Today’s meeting was tremendously helpful and informative in providing me with an understanding of how Senator Collins and I can be most effective in doing that moving forward.  Particularly, my position on the Armed Services Committee will enable me to work to address their concerns and serve their needs, and I not only look forward to doing that, but also continuing the outstanding work that Senator Collins accomplished during her tenure on the committee.”

Susan Collins Awarded Navy's Highest Civilian Honor

Secretary of Navy Presents Senator Collins With Distinguished Public Service Award

Award is Navy's highest civilian honor

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a ceremony in her Washington, DC office today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, received the Distinguished Public Service Award from Ray Mabus, Secretary of the United States Navy. This award, established in 1951, is the highest public service honor bestowed by the Department of the Navy and is awarded to civilians for service that benefits the Navy, Marine Corps and Department of the Navy.

The citation reads:

"For exceptional service to the Department of the Navy as a member of Congress and the Senate Armed Services Committee.  Senator Collins’ long and selfless service to the Nation’s Sailors and Marines ensured they were provided the resources necessary to support and defend the Nation’s interests around the globe.  Her strong leadership as Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee greatly contributed to the quality of the United States’ naval forces, continued support for quality of life for the men and women of the Department of the Navy, and assured the Navy-Marine Corps team was the most lethal in history.  Senator Collins’ tireless advocacy of shipbuilding programs assured the highest levels of readiness for our combat forces.  With grateful appreciation for her 16 years of service to the Nation and for her outstanding contributions to the Navy and Marine Corps, the Honorable Susan Collins is awarded the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award.”

"I am truly honored to receive this recognition," said Senator Collins. "Being an advocate for the men and women who serve in the United States Navy is a privilege.  Maine has a long maritime tradition, and I am particularly proud of the shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works and the men and women who work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, as well as the countless other companies and suppliers across Maine who contribute to our national security.  Thanks to their hard work and dedication, the State of Maine continues to help make the U.S. Navy the greatest fleet the world has ever seen.”