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How has Senator Collins worked to improve access to affordable health care?

Senator Collins has authored and supported laws to lower prescription drug costs, expand rural health care, advance diabetes and Alzheimer’s research, strengthen the health care workforce, and improve access to lifesaving services throughout Maine.

Prescription Drug Costs and Insulin

  • Helped author the Know the Lowest Price Act of 2018 and the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act, both of which were signed into law in 2018 and prohibited pharmacy gag clauses that prevented pharmacists from telling customers when paying cash would cost less than using insurance.
  • Supported the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples Act, known as the CREATES Act, which was signed into law in 2019 and targeted anti-competitive practices used to delay lower-cost generic and biosimilar medicines.
  • Co-authored the bipartisan INSULIN Act, which advanced from the Senate Health Committee in July 2026. The bill would cap covered patients’ monthly out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35, create an insulin-access pilot program for uninsured patients, and address market practices that impede lower-cost insulin.
  • Introduced the Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act and co-sponsored the Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act to prevent brand-name manufacturers from using regulatory petitions or litigation to delay lower-cost generic and biosimilar competition.

Diabetes

  • Founded the Senate Diabetes Caucus in 1997 and has led efforts to more than triple federal funding for diabetes research.
  • Secured the reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program through December 31, 2026, at $200 million per year, a 25 percent increase and the highest funding level in the program’s history. The program supports Type 1 diabetes research and diabetes prevention and treatment in Tribal communities.
  • These investments have contributed to advances in glucose monitoring, artificial pancreas technology, treatment, prevention, and research toward a cure, benefiting thousands of Mainers living with diabetes.

Alzheimer’s Disease

  • Authored the original National Alzheimer’s Project Act, which was signed into law in 2011 and established the first coordinated national strategy to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Authored the National Alzheimer’s Project Act Reauthorization and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act, which were signed into law in 2024. The laws extend the national strategy through 2035 and require an annual estimate of the research funding needed to carry it out.
  • Co-authored the Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act of 2024, known as the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law in 2024 and renewed public health programs focused on brain health, early detection, data, education, and caregiver support. Maine received one of the first BOLD awards in 2020 and a second award in 2023, helping the state implement its Alzheimer’s plan and prevention program.
  • Introduced the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act to create a pathway for Medicare coverage of FDA-approved blood-based biomarker tests, which could help patients receive earlier diagnoses when available treatments are most effective.

Rural Health Care and Maine Funding

  • Worked to create the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) during negotiations over the 2025 budget reconciliation law. Maine received $190 million in first-year funding, and Senator Collins intervened with federal officials to protect the award when state milestones placed it at risk. The RHTP represents the largest investment in rural health care in more than two decades.
  • Over the past five years, secured more than $220 million through Funding Maine’s Future for Maine hospitals, health centers, dental clinics, recovery programs, emergency medical services, and other health-related projects.
  • Recent investments include $10.81 million for a new emergency department and oncology infusion center at Stephens Memorial Hospital, $6.8 million for the emergency department at St. Joseph Hospital, $6.4 million for Rumford Hospital, $5 million for Bridgton Hospital, and $4.99 million for the Rural Health Clinic at Calais Community Hospital.
  • Funding has also supported maternity equipment, behavioral health services, pediatric mental health care, cancer treatment, dental clinics, mobile services, ambulances, electronic medical records, and backup power for rural facilities.

Health Care Workforce and Rural Access

  • Secured more than $13 million in Fiscal Year 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending for health care workforce training across Maine.
  • Introduced the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act, the Train More Nurses Act, and the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act to expand nursing education, increase faculty, create career pathways, and train professionals to care for older adults.
  • Introduced the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act to help rural providers be prepared to handle obstetric emergencies in hospitals that do not have a labor and delivery unit.
  • Introduced the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act to help rural and medically underserved Maine communities recruit and retain physicians.
  • Supported the CONNECT for Health Act to make key Medicare telehealth flexibilities permanent.
  • Introduced the Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act to maintain critical Medicare support for rural ambulance providers.

Other Key Legislation

  • Co-authored the Maximizing Outcomes through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for Health Care Act, known as the MOBILE Health Care Act, which was signed into law in 2022. The law allows community health centers to use federal funds for mobile clinics that bring primary care, dental care, behavioral health services, screenings, and other care directly to rural and underserved patients.
  • Co-authored the Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs Reauthorization Act, known as the SIREN Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law in 2024 and extended federal support for rural fire and EMS recruitment, training, certification, equipment, and naloxone for five additional years.
  • Co-sponsored the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, which was signed into law in 2022 and supports mental health treatment, peer-support programs, suicide prevention, and burnout reduction for doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals.
  • Supported the No Surprises Act, which was signed into law in 2020 and protects patients from many unexpected out-of-network bills for emergency care and services received at in-network facilities.

What has Senator Collins done for veterans?

Senator Collins has long advocated for access to high-quality medical care, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, benefits, transportation, housing, and support for veterans’ families and caregivers.

Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment

  • Since 2021, Senator Collins has led efforts to strengthen mental health and substance use disorder care for veterans by securing annual report language and prioritizing increased funding for these initiatives through the Military Construction-VA Appropriations bill. During that time, she has helped increase funding for VA mental health programs from $9.4 billion in FY2020 to more than $18.8 billion in FY2026.
  • Led efforts to expedite the construction of the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program facility at Togus VA Medical Center, which opened in April 2026 as Maine’s first VA facility providing long-term residential treatment for substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and related conditions.
    • Before the center opened, Maine veterans requiring this level of care often had to travel to Massachusetts or Vermont and faced an average wait of 132 days. The new facility allows veterans to receive comprehensive treatment closer to their families and support systems.

Key Legislation

  • Supported the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, known as the PACT Act, which was signed into law in 2022 and expanded VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
  • Helped enact the VA MISSION Act of 2018, which created the Veteran Community Care Program to help veterans receive care closer to home and incorporated provisions she championed to expand the VA caregiver assistance program to veterans of all generations.
  • Co-authored the Protecting Moms Who Served Act, which was signed into law in 2021 and strengthened maternal care coordination at VA facilities while requiring the first comprehensive study of maternal health among women veterans.
  • Co-authored the Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans Act. Its provisions were signed into law through the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022, allowing eligible severely disabled veterans to receive help purchasing an adaptive vehicle once every 10 years rather than only once in a lifetime.
  • Co-sponsored the Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act, which was signed into law in 2022 and expanded access to high-quality breast cancer screening and care for women veterans.
  • Co-authored the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act, which was signed into law in 2020 and made all veterans with service-connected disabilities eligible for a free lifetime pass to national parks and other federal recreational lands and waters.

Current Legislation

  • Supports the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act, which would allow approximately 42,000 combat-injured veterans who were medically retired before 20 years of service to receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation without an unfair offset.
  • Introduced the Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act to expand the VA’s Highly Rural Transportation Grant Program. More than six in 10 Maine veterans live in rural areas, but under current rules only veterans living in Piscataquis County qualify for the program.

Funding and Maine Impact

  • Through her Funding Maine’s Future initiative, she has secured $3.66 million for facility and equipment improvements at Maine Veterans’ Homes in Augusta, Bangor, Caribou, Machias, Scarborough, and South Paris.
  • In 2025, Senator Collins worked with the Department of Education to restore funding for the Veterans Upward Bound Program at the University of Southern Maine, which helps veterans prepare for and succeed in postsecondary education.
  • Since 2020, she has championed initiatives to enhance health care in rural areas by securing $115 million more than requested in the president’s budget requests and emphasizing continued care for rural veterans through targeted report language.

What has Senator Collins done to address the opioid crisis?

Senator Collins has supported prevention, treatment, recovery, law enforcement, workforce development, and international drug-trafficking initiatives to combat opioid use disorder and the fentanyl crisis.

Key Legislation

  • Helped shape the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which was signed into law in 2018 and included Collins-authored provisions supporting safe medication disposal and peer recovery networks.
  • Helped secure provisions in the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law in 2025 and included Collins-authored provisions to renew peer recovery networks, maternal and child health programs and research, and loan repayment assistance for substance use disorder professionals.
  • Co-sponsored the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016, which was signed into law and established a broad federal response encompassing prevention, treatment, recovery, overdose response, and law enforcement.
  • Co-sponsored the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence Off Fentanyl Act, known as the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which was signed into law in 2024 and imposed sanctions and financial penalties on individuals and organizations involved in international fentanyl trafficking.
  • Supported the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, known as the HALT Fentanyl Act, which was signed into law in 2025 and permanently classified fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I controlled substances while preserving pathways for legitimate research.
  • Helped shape the 21st Century Cures Act in 2016, which included $1 billion for state opioid-response grants and five mental health and health care provisions she authored or co-authored.
  • Co-authored the SIREN Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law in 2024 and allows rural EMS agencies to purchase naloxone and strengthen their overdose-response capacity.
  • As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has supported funding for State Opioid Response Grants, the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant, the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, overdose prevention and surveillance, and the National Institutes of Health Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative.

Funding Maine’s Future

  • Has made treatment, behavioral health, and recovery projects a major component of her Funding Maine’s Future initiative, securing more than $23 million since 2024 alone for mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs and facilities across Maine.
  • Recent investments include $2.647 million to expand the Portland Recovery Community Center, funding for a regional recovery center in York County, expanded residential treatment in Aroostook County, treatment services for adolescents, recovery housing, mobile care, and peer-support programs.
  • These projects add treatment capacity, expand recovery services closer to home, and help Mainers maintain support after leaving residential or clinical care.

How has Senator Collins supported Maine’s fisheries and marine resources?

Maine’s fishing industry is a cornerstone of the state’s economy, culture, and coastal heritage. Senator Collins has defended Maine lobstermen from unworkable federal regulations, preserved Maine Sea Grant, protected working waterfronts, and supported marine research and workforce development.

Protecting Maine’s Lobster Industry

  • Led the Maine congressional delegation in securing a provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 that prevents new federal North Atlantic Right Whale regulations from being imposed on Maine’s lobster fishery through December 31, 2028. The six-year pause protects thousands of Maine jobs while additional research is conducted and more accurate data are collected.
    • Since the enactment of this provision, Senator Collins has secured than $80 million in funding for North Atlantic Right Whale monitoring.
  • Helped secure $14.1 million to assist Maine lobstermen with the cost of complying with new federal gear requirements.
  • Has continued to oppose any forced transition to unproven ropeless fishing gear without meaningful input from Maine fishermen and evidence that the technology is safe, reliable, and affordable in Maine waters.

Maine Sea Grant

  • Successfully fought the Department of Commerce’s attempt to terminate Maine Sea Grant and secured the restoration of its full federal award. Maine Sea Grant supports sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, working waterfronts, marine businesses, research, and coastal resilience throughout the state.
    • In 2023, Maine Sea Grant generated an estimated $23.5 million in economic benefits, supported 332 businesses and 565 jobs, and produced approximately $15 in economic activity for every federal dollar invested.
  • Received the Sea Grant Association’s Association Award in 2026 in recognition of her work to preserve the program.

Key Legislation and Funding

  • Helped lead the Young Fishermen’s Development Act, which was signed into law in 2021 and established a NOAA grant program to train and prepare the next generation of commercial fishermen and women.
  • Introduced the bipartisan Working Waterfront Preservation Act, which would create a grant program to help coastal communities and maritime businesses preserve and improve working waterfront property.
  • As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she has secured more than $80 million for North Atlantic Right Whale research and monitoring. She has also secured $16 million since 2018 for American lobster research through the Sea Grant program.

How has Senator Collins advanced bipartisan civil rights and government reforms?

Senator Collins has worked across party lines to protect marriage equality, combat hate crimes, and strengthen democratic institutions.

Respect for Marriage Act

  • Co-authored the landmark Respect for Marriage Act with Senator Tammy Baldwin and served as the lead Republican sponsor who helped build the bipartisan coalition needed for passage. The law was signed on December 13, 2022.
  • The Respect for Marriage Act requires the federal government to recognize marriages that were valid in the state where they were performed and requires states to recognize valid same-sex and interracial marriages from other states.
  • The law protects access to federal benefits, taxation, inheritance, immigration, veterans’ benefits, Social Security, and other rights connected to marriage while preserving explicit religious-liberty protections.
  • For Maine couples, the law provides statutory assurance that their marriages will continue to be recognized by the federal government and across state lines, including if Supreme Court precedent recognizing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage were changed.

Other Civil Rights and Survivor Protections

  • Co-authored the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which was signed into law in 2021 after passing the Senate 94-1 and strengthened the federal response to hate crimes targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
  • Co-sponsored the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which was signed into law in 2022 and made lynching a federal hate crime.
  • Co-sponsored the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, which was signed into law in 2022 and allows survivors to pursue claims in court rather than being forced into private arbitration.
  • Co-sponsored the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which was signed into law in 2021 and established Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
  • Co-sponsored the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which added crimes motivated by a victim's sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability to federal hate crime law.

Government Reform and Election Security 

  • Co-authored the Electoral Count Reform Act, which was signed into law in 2022 and modernized the procedures for counting electoral votes, clarified the limited role of the Vice President, and established clearer rules for resolving disputes to ensure the peaceful transfer of power following a presidential election.
  • Co-authored a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 that was signed into law in 2025 and requires penetration testing of election systems seeking federal certification to help identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities.