Legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) would create a Senate-confirmed inspector general (IG) for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to bolster transparency and accountability. Under current practices, the CFPB shares an inspector general Read more…
Building owners would be encouraged to invest in fire safety upgrades under bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) last week. The Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act would enhance tax incentives for Read more…
Amateur athletic organizations would be required to report sexual abuse under bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Monday. Collins and Ernst joined a bipartisan group of 14 senators who introduced the bill Read more…
The rights of older workers to take legal action in response to age-related discrimination would be restored under a bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that garnered bipartisan support. The Protecting Older Workers Against Read more…
Bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) would preserve and enhance the Historic Tax Credit (HTC) to support economic development across the country. The Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act would modify Read more…
States, local governments and tribes would have more flexibility to invest in families living in poverty under bipartisan legislation reintroduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on Friday. The Two-Generation Economic Empowerment Act would foster collaboration among existing systems and Read more…
Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) would reform energy efficiency policy in an effort to reduce pollution while boosting the economy. Portman and U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness (ESIC) Act, Read more…
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) led a group of Republican senators in calling on the Trump administration to pursue a tough-minded and principled policy toward Russia, as well as active dialogue in areas of mutual interest. U.S. Sens. Todd Young Read more…
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) led a bipartisan congressional call this week for larger federal investments in research for Alzheimer’s, a leading cause of death and the nation’s most expensive disease. The lawmakers Read more…
The approval process for certain generic drug applications would be improved to boost competitiveness and prevent sudden price hikes under bipartisan legislation reintroduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on Friday. Collins, the chairwoman of the Senate Aging Committee, reintroduced Read more…
Medicare’s current cap on outpatient therapy that hurts seniors trying to recover from debilitating illnesses would be permanently removed under bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) on Thursday. The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act would repeal Read more…
Health care providers would receive new tools and training to identify and protect victims of human trafficking under bipartisan legislation reintroduced by U.S. Sen Susan Collins (R-ME) on Tuesday. The Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond (SOAR) Act, introduced by Collins Read more…
Regulators, financial institutions and legal organizations would be given new protections and tools to prevent the financial exploitation of seniors under bipartisan legislation supported by U.S. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). The Senior$afe Act, introduced by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) Read more…
U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) on Monday introduced a comprehensive plan to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with better choices for more affordable health care. The Patient Freedom Act (PFA) would Read more…
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) focused on health care reforms during a confirmation hearing for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) nominee U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-GA). Collins and Roberts, both members Read more…
First responders who were hurt on the job would be able to receive their full retirement benefits under bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on Wednesday. Collins and U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced the Fair Return Read more…
A year-long investigation into abrupt prescription drug price increases led by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) culminated in a report released on Wednesday that found drug companies have used a monopoly business to inflate prices. Collins, the chairman of the Read more…
Key provisions supported by U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA) and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) were included in a bipartisan bill to boost American competitiveness and innovation that President Barack Obama is expected to soon sign into law. The American Read more…
U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) welcomed the Navy’s recent Force Structure Assessment that calls for an increase in battle force ships. The Navy’s new fleet plan sets a goal of 355 battle force ships, Read more…
Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) to strengthen the U.S. response to the Boko Haram terrorist group was recently signed into law by President Barack Obama. Collins’ bill calls for a five-year U.S. strategy to counter Boko Read more…
President Obama signed bipartisan legislation into law on Tuesday that U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) coauthored to create new opportunities for researchers and to invest in science and innovation. The Next Generation Researchers Act, which Collins coauthored with U.S. Sen. Read more…
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) joined Maine’s congressional delegation in urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fill vacant positions in the state. In a letter to VA Undersecretary for Health David Shulkin, Read more…
An initiative led by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) to outfit troops with American-made athletic shoes was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday. The provision, championed by Collins, Poliquin and Read more…
Leaders in both chambers of Congress applauded President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Elaine Chao as secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Chao, who served as President George W. Bush’s Secretary of Labor for eight years, was the first American Read more…
A bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) recognizes the Civil Air Patrol’s critical support of defense and homeland security missions in light of the organization’s 75th anniversary. The House resolution, which was co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Charlie Read more…
The Senate has unanimously approved legislation that U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced to help strengthen security along the nation’s northern border, the longest common land border in the world. The Northern Border Security Review Act, which was introduced by Read more…
A 25-member coalition of Republican lawmakers called on the U.S. Department of Education to withdraw a proposed rule that would dictate how states and local school districts distribute federal funds for poor schools. A letter signed by the lawmakers urged Read more…
Medicare will begin covering individual care plans for newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s patients and family caregivers in January, an action applauded by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). Under plans finalized by the Centers for Medicare and Read more…
Following advocacy by U.S. Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made a policy change that could eliminate any financial incentive for health care providers to overprescribe pain medications. The Read more…
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) lauded the recent announcement that 56 individuals and five India-based call centers had been arrested and indicted for impersonating government officials in scams targeting American seniors. The arrests were the culmination of a three-year investigation Read more…
U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) led their colleagues in pressing Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew to answer questions regarding the U.S. government’s concessions to Iran. In a letter sent this week to Lew, the senators said they Read more…
Maine’s congressional delegation succeeded in advocating against a proposed European Union (EU) ban on lobster imports from the United States on Friday. The European Commission Committee on Invasive Alien Species announced that it would not pursue listing American lobster as Read more…
U.S. Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) raised questions on Wednesday about why the Obama administration made a $1.7 billion payment to Iran without notifying top U.S. military officials. Ayotte and Gardner led letters to Defense Secretary Ash Read more…
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) announced an agreement on Monday that ensures that critical deliveries will continue to island communities in Maine. Collins, Poliquin and U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) brokered an agreement that Read more…
Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on Wednesday would align current programs and funding streams to help lift families out of poverty. The Two-Generation Economic Empowerment Act, introduced by Collins and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), would Read more…
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) led a bipartisan letter on Friday urging the European Commission to reject a lobster ban proposed by Sweden. The European Union (EU) Scientific Forum on Invasive Alien Species advanced Read more…
Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) would cut filing costs and reduce paperwork for sole-proprietors and small businesses to offer retirement plans to employees. The bill – S. 3307 – introduced by Collins and U.S. Sen. Mark Read more…
U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) called on EpiPen manufacturer Mylan on Thursday to explain steep price increases for the life-saving devices in recent years. Grassley also led a letter to the FDA that was signed by Read more…
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) voiced opposition on Wednesday to President Barack Obama’s designation of the North Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine. Collins and Poliquin both previously expressed reservations about the president’s Read more…
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) outlined legislation that would establish new financial protections for seniors during a visit on Thursday to the Bangor Savings Bank G. Clifton Eames Learning Center in Bangor, Maine. The Read more…
In response to efforts led by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on Monday that seniors will no longer need cell phones to access account information. Collins, the chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, and Read more…
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced on Thursday that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a five-year grant to Jackson Laboratory that will total more than $11.7 million. The Jackson Laboratory, which has a facility in Read more…
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) recently announced that the Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT) would be deployed to stimulate growth in Maine’s forest products industry. EDAT, an integrated, multi-agency team, will deploy to Maine Read more…
U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) led a bipartisan call on Tuesday for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to revise a proposed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rule that could limit access to Read more…
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) led a bipartisan call on Tuesday for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand coverage for substance abuse treatment. Collins co-led a letter to acting CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt that calls for Read more…
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) led a congressional call on Thursday for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide relief to dairy farmers facing declining milk prices. The bipartisan letter, which was signed by more than 60 senators and representatives, Read more…
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) announced on Tuesday that a $10.525 million federal grant has been awarded to replace the Beals Island Bridge in Jonesport, Maine. Collins, the chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Read more…
Efforts led by U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Susan Collins (R-ME) to expand access to Alzheimer’s disease assessment and treatment-planning resources took a step forward last week. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed covering Read more…
The Senate adopted the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), S. 524, conference report with bipartisan support on Wednesday, which marks the first time Congress has supported long-term addiction recovery. The bill now goes to President Barack Obama to be Read more…
Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on Friday would provide additional training and support to family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act, S. 3113, introduced by Collins Read more…