Sen. Susan Collins
@SenatorCollins • 523,267 subscribers
United States Senator from Maine. All posts originate from the Press Office of Senator Susan Collins.
Videos
The United States military is one of the greatest meritocracies in the free world; we need to make sure that it stays that way. Today, I pressed Secretary Hegseth on the alarming number of senior generals and admirals who were removed from their positions or blocked from promotions. More than half of these service members were female or black. For the first time in more than a decade, no active-duty female naval officers are likely to be promoted to admiral. Reports that women and people of color are disproportionately fired or sidelined create the impression that their service is not valued. This will discourage well-qualified women and people of color from joining our Armed Forces, depriving us of their talent, dedication, and patriotism.
Sen. Susan Collins115,369 views • 14 days ago
Today, I cast my 10,000th consecutive roll call vote, extending the unbroken voting streak that I have maintained throughout my entire Senate service. Mainers are known for their work ethic, and they deserve a Senator who works just as hard for them. Growing up in Aroostook County, I learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and honoring your commitments. I am proud to bring those values with me to the Senate every day. Representing the State of Maine is the honor of a lifetime, and I will continue to serve with the diligence and responsibility that Mainers deserve.
Sen. Susan Collins333,553 views • 2 months ago
Yesterday, world leaders, loved ones, friends, and colleagues gathered to celebrate the extraordinary life of Senator Lindsey Graham. Lindsey was a skilled legislator, a strong leader, and undoubtedly a player on the world stage. For me, Lindsey was also a dear friend. His unsurpassed sense of humor, self-deprecating wit, and storytelling ability made serving with him a delight. I will miss Lindsey greatly.
Sen. Susan Collins35,386 views • 6 days ago
Today, the Senate HELP Committee voted to advance bipartisan legislation I introduced with Senators Tim Kaine and Lisa Murkowski to prevent the Department of Education from transferring critical offices responsible for special education and rehabilitative services, postsecondary education, elementary and secondary education, and Indian education to other federal agencies that lack the staff and expertise needed to execute their missions. One of the offices protected by our bill manages programs established under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known as IDEA, that help meet the educational needs of more than 8 million children with disabilities. Moving this work to the Department of Health and Human Services fundamentally misunderstands the purpose of the Special Education program. It is focused primarily on students’ educational needs, not their health care needs. Every American, regardless of background or disability, deserves access to a quality public education. These important landmark programs must remain at the Department of Education, where Congress specifically placed them and where they belong.
Sen. Susan Collins23,968 views • 5 days ago
It's always a pleasure meeting with so many Mainers at Constituent Coffee!
Sen. Susan Collins282,332 views • 5 months ago
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 40 percent of people with diabetes have rationed or skipped insulin doses due to the cost. No one should be forced to go without the treatment they need to survive. Today, the landmark INSULIN Act that I authored with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock, and John Kennedy advanced out of the Senate HELP Committee by a strong bipartisan vote of 17–5, marking a critical step toward getting this legislation signed into law. By capping monthly out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 for those with private insurance, creating a pilot program to make insulin available at the same cost to uninsured Americans, and addressing the perverse market incentives that drive up insulin prices, our bill would deliver real relief to the thousands of diabetes patients who have struggled for far too long to afford the medication they depend on.
Sen. Susan Collins18,310 views • 13 days ago
Today, we welcomed home more than 60 Maine veterans in Bangor as they returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., organized by Honor Flight Maine. These veterans visited the memorials built in our nation’s capital to pay tribute to their service. It was deeply moving to join their families and friends in showing them the gratitude and respect they have earned, and to remind them that their sacrifices will never be forgotten.
Sen. Susan Collins38,161 views • 2 months ago
Every federal dollar intended for child care that is lost to fraud is a dollar that cannot be used to support working families who need those services. That is why today’s HELP Committee hearing on fraud in federally funded child care programs was so important. Child care fraud schemes cannot be allowed to continue, and it is incumbent on federal agencies and state leaders to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used legally, transparently, and for their intended purpose.
Sen. Susan Collins78,616 views • 5 months ago
Tonight, the Senate took an important step toward reopening the government. This continuing resolution will reopen government immediately, extend funding through January 30th, and provide back pay to all federal workers. This measure also includes three full-year Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills, including Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch. This three-bill package, which originally passed the Senate on August 1st with overwhelming bipartisan support, will support our veterans, troops, farmers, and rural communities. This package will also provide full-year funding for SNAP and WIC. We must not delay any longer.
Sen. Susan Collins107,313 views • 8 months ago
This evening, the Senate passed legislation that includes full-year funding for five important Appropriations bills. These bills will support our national security interests through investments in our U.S. military service; strengthen court security and invest in oversight of federal programs; support lifesaving biomedical research; modernize our nation’s outdated air traffic system and address the air traffic controller shortage; and support America’s workforce, and children and families. Additionally, this legislation continues funding for the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks to allow us additional time to negotiate that funding bill, in the wake of last weekend’s tragic shooting of Alex Pretti. When we pass this package and when it is signed into law, on top of the previous packages, we will have funded 96 percent of all of government. This marks an important milestone and shows that Congress can work together in a bipartisan manner to carry out our Article One responsibilities and deliver results for the people we are honored to represent.
Sen. Susan Collins78,728 views • 6 months ago
TRIO programs have changed the lives of countless first-generation and low-income students in Maine and across the country. Three of my own staff members are TRIO alums and likely would not have attended college without TRIO. I oppose the Administration's proposal to, once again, eliminate programs that enjoy robust support and have made such a difference in the lives of children.
Sen. Susan Collins40,654 views • 3 months ago
May 8, 1945 – Victory in Europe Day. On this day each year, we honor the service and sacrifice of the millions of Americans who fought to preserve freedom and defeat the Nazis. Adolf Hitler’s regime represented evil and hatred in its purest form, and the courage of the Allied forces resulted in their overwhelming defeat. One of those men was my father, Donald Collins, who served as a sergeant in the Army’s 87th Infantry Division. He was wounded twice and earned two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star for his bravery during the Battle of the Bulge. Freedom is a cause that’s always been, and will continue to be, worth fighting for.
Sen. Susan Collins33,949 views • 2 months ago
Tonight, we finally put an end to the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history, which has caused completely unnecessary harm to so many families in Maine and across the country, as well as to our national and economic security. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and with members of the House of Representatives and Administration to resolve the stalemate before America’s dedicated public servants missed yet another paycheck. I am pleased that under our legislation, all federal employees, including members of our military and Coast Guard, Capitol Police officers, Border Patrol agents, TSA screeners, and air traffic controllers will receive their back wages. Since the beginning of the shutdown, I have been pushing for the three appropriations bills that previously passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support to be attached to a continuing resolution to reopen government. These bills include important funding that will support our veterans, troops, farmers, and rural communities, and provide full-year funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Sen. Susan Collins79,082 views • 8 months ago
![Today, I was honored to be in attendance for the signing of the Social Security Fairness Act into law, a bill I authored with Senator Sherrod Brown. I am so pleased that more than 25,000 Mainers will benefit from this new law. [1/4]](https://image.24vids.com/tw-1876027157040050363/ext_tw_video_thumb/1876026796719603712/pu/img/uzpRACrfhaFv0WFH.jpg)
Three years ago today, the Respect for Marriage Act, which I proudly co-authored with Sen. Tammy Baldwin, was signed into law. This historic, bipartisan legislation enshrined in federal law that same-sex and interracial marriages must be recognized, providing certainty for couples across the country that they will continue to enjoy the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities afforded to all other marriages, regardless of future court decisions. The law also maintained—and indeed strengthened—important religious liberty and conscience protections. By pairing these protections with clear federal recognition of same-sex marriage, the Respect for Marriage Act struck a careful balance that reflects both equality under the law and respect for religious freedom.
Sen. Susan Collins55,813 views • 7 months ago
80 years ago today, the Battle of the Bulge ended with Allied victory, marking a crucial turning point in World War II. Last month, on the anniversary of when this battle began, I traveled with a bipartisan delegation to ceremonies in Belgium and Luxembourg to honor the brave Allied soldiers who fought in this historic battle—including my own father, who was wounded twice, earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. It’s easy to see why we call these brave servicemembers our greatest generation.
Sen. Susan Collins97,996 views • 1 year ago
It was a tremendous honor to be awarded the Army’s Distinguished Public Service Medal. I would like to thank Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth for awarding me this medal, which is the highest public service recognition awarded by the U.S. Army. Throughout my Senate service, and in my leadership roles on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, maintaining a strong national defense has been one of my highest priorities. This commitment not only enhances our national security at a time when we face the most dangerous global security environment in 50 years, but it also supports good-paying jobs at Bath Iron Works, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and elsewhere across the State of Maine.
Sen. Susan Collins74,437 views • 1 year ago
In Maine, toxic "forever chemicals" known as PFAS were present in wastewater sludge spread decades ago as fertilizer. Farmers were told this fertilizer was safe to use and using it would help their local municipalities. Instead, these toxic chemicals devastated some of our family farmers and rendered farm land and products unusable. The University of Maine is now a leader in research on how to address and remove PFAS, and it is critical the federal government continue to support this work. I've secured nearly $33 million through the Agriculture Appropriations bill over the past five years for the Agricultural Research Service at the University of Maine to establish a new Center of Excellence for PFAS Solutions, and will continue working to help farmers who are facing the consequences of PFAS contamination through no fault of their own.
Sen. Susan Collins19,122 views • 3 months ago