Sen. Susan Collins

I'm honored to accept the John Dingell Award from @Edison_Electric and @IBEW and be recognized with my friend @SenJackReed for our support of the LIHEAP program. We will continue to protect and strengthen LIHEAP so that families can afford to keep their homes safe and warm.

The Democrats’ decision to shut down the Department of Homeland Security has caused chaos at our airports, delayed assistance to communities affected by disasters, and forced thousands of frontline employees to work without any guarantee of when they will be paid. The United States is less safe because the Democrats chose to walk away from the bipartisan DHS funding bill and have blocked repeated Republican efforts to pass a short-term funding patch to prevent disruptions while negotiations continue. The White House made a good-faith offer last month that builds on the reforms included in the bipartisan funding bill negotiated earlier this year, with new safeguards to protect both the American public and law enforcement and increased oversight. Democrats waited 18 days to respond. In that time, we saw violent attacks at Old Dominion University and the Temple Israel Synagogue in Michigan and a massive cyber attack on the Stryker Corporation. It is time for Democrats to get serious and work with us in earnest to govern responsibly.

When Maine Sea Grant was targeted for elimination last year, I worked closely with Director Dr. Gayle Zydlewski and the Department of Commerce to make the case for the program and secure the full restoration of its funding. This January, I secured full funding for the national Sea Grant program through the annual appropriations process. Thank you to the Sea Grant Association for this recognition, and to Gayle and the entire Maine Sea Grant team for their continued partnership in supporting Maine’s coastal communities and working waterfronts.

Today in Hartland, I visited the Irving Tanning Community Center and the town's wastewater treatment facility to see ongoing projects supported by millions in Congressionally Directed Spending I secured through the Appropriations process. The funding helped replace the community center’s roof and will help install a new furnace, and is also supporting major upgrades to the town’s wastewater infrastructure. These projects help ensure that Hartland is better positioned for future growth and development. I worked hard to secure this funding, along with support for hundreds of other development projects that are helping communities across Maine carry out significant improvements that might otherwise have taken years.

Even with DHS shut down, our @USCG are continuing their vital work — they rescued three fishermen whose boat sank 23 miles off of Boothbay Harbor yesterday.

As Co-Chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, @SenatorShaheen and I are always working to improve the lives and treatment options for people with this disease. Our DIABETES Act does just that by streamlining coverage for insulin pumps and expanding diabetes education and training for patients and providers.

Thank you to @IAFFofficial and fire fighters across our nation for your extraordinary service. It has been an honor to work with you on shared priorities like repealing the WEP and GPO, strengthening federal programs that support local fire departments, and securing funding to build new fire stations throughout the State of Maine.

It was great to join hundreds of fishermen and industry leaders at the annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum dinner in Rockport last night. I appreciated having the chance to speak with the men and women who make their living on the water about the issues affecting their work and to hear how I can best support Maine’s fishing community. Their insights have helped inform my efforts to restore funding for Maine Sea Grant and secure additional funding for lobster research, right whale monitoring, and fisheries data collection.

It was an incredible honor to receive the YMCA of the USA’s inaugural Impact Award. Thank you to Bangor YMCA CEO Diane Dickerson for making the trip to Washington and for introducing me during the ceremony. I will continue working to better ensure that more families in Maine and across the country have access to affordable child care, wellness programs, and other community resources that local YMCAs make possible.

We cannot tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. The Iranian regime’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities, ballistic missile development, and support for terrorist proxies pose serious and longstanding threats to the national security of the United States and our allies. Iran has enormous stockpiles of missiles and one-way attack drones and the industrial capacity to continue to expand its arsenal. If the Iranian regime were allowed to continue developing ballistic missiles, it would soon be able to shield its nuclear facilities by threatening a grave and immediate response to any attack. Iran is also the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism. It has spent nearly half a century attacking Americans directly and through terrorist proxies, beginning with the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran that resulted in 66 Americans being held hostage for 444 days and continuing with the numerous devastating attacks against American service members and civilians in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and more. In the October 7, 2023, massacre, Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 people, including 46 Americans, in what was the deadliest single day for the Jewish community since the Holocaust. The list of the Iranian regime’s crimes against America and our allies goes on and on. The Constitution gives Congress an essential role in matters of war and peace. Sustained combat operations require full engagement with Congress. The Administration has adhered to the provisions of the War Powers Act that require notification to Congress within 48 hours of hostilities commencing, and it has provided numerous classified briefings to Congress. Passing this resolution now would send the wrong message to Iran and to our troops. At this juncture, providing unequivocal support to our service members is critically important, as is ongoing consultation by the Administration with Congress.

Now that the 250-mile race is complete, I want to thank all the volunteers, spectators, and of course the mushers for making the 34th annual Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races such an unforgettable experience. I so enjoyed attending this signature winter tradition.

Read my and @SenKatieBritt's appropriations fact sheet detailing a cross-section of implications for agencies affected by the funding lapse: appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/……

The @PostOpinions Editorial Board used this data yesterday to stress the risks of the lapse in DHS funding in the wake of Iran strikes and a potential terror attack in Texas.

Amid conflict with Iran, Democrats’ shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has entered its third week and forced many front-line workers to report to work without any guarantee of when they will be paid.

It was heartwarming and meaningful to be home in The County this weekend. Whether it be cheering on mushers from across the U.S. and Canada and shaking hands with volunteers at the Can-Am or just catching up with local families, there are reminders everywhere you look of the community, volunteerism, and work ethic that make Aroostook so special.

The Iranian regime’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, ballistic missile development, and support for terrorist proxies pose serious threats to America’s national security and that of our allies, as well as to stability in the Middle East. Our highly skilled and brave service members are in my prayers as they perform this mission. Sustained combat operations require full engagement with Congress. There are important questions that will be discussed in the Senate’s classified briefings with Administration officials next week.

I was honored to receive the National Job Corps Association Champion Award for my continued advocacy of the Job Corps program. Last year, I fought hard to ensure that the Department of Labor reversed its decision to halt enrollment of new students at Maine’s Job Corps Centers, which provide such important skills and opportunities for vulnerable young people. In addition, I secured $1.8 billion through this year’s appropriations process to ensure this critical program can continue its life changing work.

Today, I had a wonderful time participating in the Caribou Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Award Ceremony for students and educators. It was a privilege to shake the hands of so many students and teachers who are making a positive impact on their communities.

This week, I was honored to receive the Joseph G. Danek Award from the @epscoridea Foundation. The award recognizes significant contributions to advancing the nation’s scientific research efforts, which I have sought to do throughout my entire Senate service. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I helped secure a $415 million increase for the National Institutes of Health and $8.75 billion in total funding for the National Science Foundation in the recently enacted appropriations bills. The bills also included an additional $20 million for IDeA program grants, strengthening research at institutions like the University of Maine.