United States Senator from Maine. All posts originate from the Press Office of Senator Susan Collins.
Maine
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Today in Augusta, I joined first responders, their families, and other community members and local leaders at the annual Firefighters Memorial Service to honor the Maine firefighters we lost over the past year. As each name was read, a bell was rung in tribute to their service and sacrifice.
This year’s memorial had special significance as we remembered Morrill Volunteer Firefighter Andrew Cross and Searsmont Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Woodbury, who lost their lives from injuries sustained responding to the tragic explosion and fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont earlier this year. Their extraordinary commitment to protecting their communities will not be forgotten, and we extend our deepest condolences to their families at home and their brothers and sisters at the firehouse.
Maine’s firefighters answer the call in our cities and small towns, as full-time professionals and on-call volunteers, running toward danger when others are running away. We are forever grateful for their courage, dedication, and service to our communities.
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The proliferation of illicit drugs continues to be a major problem facing Maine’s communities, and illegal marijuana grow houses operated by Chinese nationals are part of a broader network of illicit drug activity contributing to this problem. We must continue working across all levels of government to shut down these illegal operations and hold those responsible accountable.
That is why I joined colleagues this week in urging Attorney General Todd Blanche to investigate the growing number of illicit drug enterprises operated by Chinese criminal organizations in the United States.
My work on this issue began in 2022, after I heard from a constituent whose neighboring house had caught fire, apparently due to an illicit drug operation. Since then, I have repeatedly pressed federal agencies to help shut down these illegal operations, raising the issue with senior officials at the Department of Justice, DEA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and Department of the Treasury in letters, meetings, and oversight hearings.
Earlier this year, I also secured provisions in appropriations legislation requiring a federal report on Chinese-linked illicit drug operations in the United States, and providing $150 million to combat the flow into our country of fentanyl, fentanyl precursors, and other synthetic drugs, many of which originate in or are processed with chemicals from China.
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright called me today to share this welcome news following our frequent conversations about the harmful effects that escalating home heating oil prices are having on Maine families. I applaud this announcement, which will increase the supply of diesel, which can also be used to heat homes this winter, and crude oil, putting immediate downward pressure on energy prices and helping to lower the cost of producing and transporting goods.
Approximately half of Maine households rely on fuel oil to heat their homes. That is why I have repeatedly urged the Administration to use every tool available to increase supply and bring down energy costs. Today’s agreement from the G7 European nations will help provide much-needed relief to Maine families this winter.
wsj.com/business/energy-oil/…
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I am pleased to announce that $27.8 million has been awarded to the Maine Department of Transportation through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program to restore nearly 44 miles of I-295 between Portland and Topsham.
This funding will help make this important corridor safer and more reliable by resurfacing the roadway, improving drainage, upgrading guardrails, and applying reflective pavement markings.
The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law increased funding for the INFRA program by more than 50 percent, providing approximately $8 billion from Fiscal Years 2022 through 2026. I was one of the lead negotiators of that law, and I am proud to see it delivering significant investments in Maine’s transportation infrastructure.
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Today, I had the pleasure of meeting with Julia Edwards, a choral music teacher at Poland Regional High School and Bruce Whittier Middle School and the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year.
Julia’s passion for music and dedication to her students are inspiring. Teachers like Julia help students discover their talents, develop a lifelong love of learning, and feel excited to come to school each day.
Congratulations, Julia, on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for all that you do!
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I am pleased to announce that the bipartisan Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act that I authored with @SenTinaSmith has been signed into law!
With cases of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses increasing in Maine and across the country, this law will help us continue our efforts to better monitor, diagnose, and treat these diseases.
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Exciting news: The Air Force has advanced the Bangor Air National Guard Base as one of four potential locations for a new KC-46A air refueling squadron, narrowing the field from an initial 14 Air National Guard bases.
This announcement is an important step toward equipping the MAINEiacs with the advanced aircraft they need to carry out their critical mission. Bangor’s strategic location and the proven excellence of the 101st Air Refueling Wing make a compelling case for bringing the KC-46A to Maine.
I have secured more than $52.5 million in recent federal funding to strengthen the Bangor Air National Guard Base and prepare it for future aircraft, including $50 million for a new universal fuel cell hangar capable of accommodating the KC-46A and $2.5 million to support a new aircraft maintenance and ground equipment facility.
I will continue to advocate for Bangor’s selection as this process moves forward.
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Thank you, @AmDiabetesAssn, for your partnership in this effort and for your continued advocacy on behalf of the millions of Americans with diabetes.
Thank you both @SenatorCollins and @SenatorShaheen for your leadership on this lifesaving issue. Americans cannot wait any longer. It’s time to get affordable insulin to all who need it!
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Our bipartisan bill would cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for individuals who are on commercial insurance plans.
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 40 percent of people with diabetes have rationed or skipped insulin doses due to the cost.
The INSULIN Act would help people afford the insulin that they need to survive.
Americans across the country are rightly looking at Congress to take real action to lower costs, and my INSULIN Act is an opportunity to do just that.
With the Senate seeking new options to tackle affordability this week, I urge my colleagues to bring my bill to the floor.
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Without warning or consultation, Congress just received an $810 million package of pocket rescissions from the Administration. This is the most recent attempt by this Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to undermine Congress’s Constitutional power of the purse.
This move shows that OMB intentionally withheld these funds for months to execute this unlawful cancellation of appropriations that were approved on a bipartisan basis and signed into law.
Not only is the delay itself an impoundment that was not reported to Congress, but also it is a usurpation of Congress’s appropriations powers. OMB is an agency of the executive branch. It does not get to decide which programs are worth funding.
The independent Government Accountability Office has concluded that pocket rescissions are unlawful and not permitted by the Impoundment Control Act. Any effort to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law.
I will work with my colleagues to address these illegal actions.
Community note
Senator Collins voted to confirm OMB Director Vought, despite Vought’s known support for the President’s efforts to impound Congressionally-approved funds.
thehill.com/homenews/senat…
thehill.com/homenews/senat…
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The Senate unanimously passed the resolution that @SenAngusKing and I introduced to recognize September 25, 2026 as National Lobster Day.
Our lobstermen bring immeasurable pride to the state of Maine, and this resolution is just one way we can acknowledge and appreciate their contributions to our communities.
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Mainers are facing dramatic increases in the cost of heating their homes, with heating oil prices up 74% compared to this time last year. It now costs approximately $675 more to fill a standard heating oil tank. As the cold winter months approach, we must address the supply shortage that is driving prices higher.
Senator King and I today directly called on President Trump to release home heating oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to help ease this shortage and bring costs down.
With ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East further straining global energy supplies, we must use every tool available to help ensure Mainers can afford to keep warm this winter, and we call on the President to provide this relief immediately.
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Nichols Inc. is doing impressive advanced manufacturing work right here in Maine.
I enjoyed touring the company’s Portland facility today, speaking with its highly skilled employees, and learning more about the innovative processes they use to produce pumps, valves, gears, and other precision components.
With approximately 225 employees in Portland, Nichols provides good jobs in Southern Maine. It was great to see firsthand the skill and expertise behind its operations.
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The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) should not be involved in agency decisions on the awards of grants. As I stated in my July 6 letter, a proposed OMB rule would politicize grantmaking. The Continuing Resolution—which passed the Senate, House, and was signed into law on September 2—blocks OMB’s proposed rule or any substantially similar one.
Any attempt to politicize grantmaking at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), or any other agency, by another means—whether an Executive Order or guidance—is contrary to congressional intent. Imposing a political review on awards that have already been selected through a rigorous scientific and merit-based process undermines the long-standing principle that the government funds awards based on scientific need and merit, rather than political ideology.
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To all observing Yom Kippur, may your fast be meaningful and your day filled with reflection. Wishing you health, peace, and hope for the year ahead.
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When crises or disasters strike, it is our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs who are the first to arrive, fearlessly rushing into danger to save lives.
Today in Lewiston, we observed the annual Blue Mass. This tradition serves as a special occasion dedicated to honoring these heroes who courageously put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities.
Thank you to Bishop James Ruggieri for celebrating the Mass with those gathered today. And to all the first responders throughout our state, thank you for committing your lives to ensuring the safety of others. It is a debt we can truly never repay.
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I am pleased to announce that my bipartisan SEED Act is now law!
Mainers are fortunate to have so many dedicated educators who go above and beyond to support their students. That can include spending their own money on books, supplies, and other classroom materials.
I authored the law that established the original educator out-of-pocket expense deduction for K-12 teachers, and I am delighted that the SEED Act, which I coauthored with Senator Michael Bennet, was signed into law today, extending that same tax relief to early childhood educators.
Our early childhood educators play a critical role in helping our youngest students develop a lifelong love of learning, and they deserve the same support available to other teachers. I am proud that we have now made that a reality.
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