From tourism and recreation, to working forests, and fishing and agricultural industries, there is no doubt that Maine’s economy is inextricably linked to the environment. Maine’s greatest treasure is its natural beauty, and Senator Collins remains committed to advancing reasonable and effective policies in the U.S. Senate to protect the environment.
Throughout her time in the U.S. Senate, Senator Collins has worked to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, spur the creation of green energy jobs, and reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil – while retaining important American manufacturing jobs. High costs of energy are burdensome to Maine families, truck drivers, farmers, fishermen, schools, small businesses, mills, and factories. Nearly 80 percent of the homes in our state rely on heating oil, leaving Maine families extremely vulnerable to high crude oil prices.
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in introducing legislation to create a grant program for offshore wind career training and education.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus and a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) awarded a $200,000 grant to Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC), a marine renewable energy company headquartered in Portland, Maine.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced today that a total of $6 million in federal brownfields funding has been awarded for the assessment and cleanup of 14 sites in Maine, more funding than any other state in the country this year. The federal grants awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will assist local communities as they work to redevelop these contaminated sites in order to improve the environment and promote future economic development.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the Senate Working Forests Caucus, and Angus King (I-ME), a cofounder of the Senate Working Forests Caucus, joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing legislation to help expand the use of renewable wood energy. The bill would allow the use of biomass from certain federal and non-federal lands to promote healthier forests, more carbon sequestration, and cleaner transportation fuels.
WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tina Smith (D-MN) led a bipartisan group in introducing the Promoting Grid Storage Act of 2019, legislation to boost research and development of cutting-edge technologies to increase energy storage capabilities for America’s electric grid and enable the expanded use of clean energy.
Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ remarks on the Senate Floor.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services has awarded $1,000,000 to the Clark Island Wetlands Conservation Project in Saint George. As part of the project, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) will purchase an additional 168 acres of Clark Island neighboring the existing 250-acre Clark Island conservation area. The overall site will protect breeding and migratory habitats for birds while also enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine), a cofounder of the Senate Working Forests Caucus, applauded a U.S. Forest Service announcement that GO Lab, Inc., in Belfast and the University of Maine (UMaine) in Orono have each been awarded $250,000 from the U.S.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the State of Maine a total of $23,304,000 from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs to improve drinking water and water infrastructure throughout the state.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of New England Senators to reintroduce legislation barring oil and gas drilling off the region’s shoreline. Oil and gas exploration in the Atlantic would put vital coastline and precious ocean resources at risk, threatening a central economic engine for New England.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Gary Peters (D-MI) in introducing the Driving America Forward Act, legislation to expand the electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell tax credits.
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued this statement following the confirmation of David Bernhardt to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior:
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act, legislation to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at a level of $900 million per year. This legislation comes after the John D. Dingell, Jr.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) in introducing the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2019.
This bipartisan bill encourages the development of new and innovative chemicals, products, and processes with an improved environmental footprint through efficient use of resources, reducing or eliminating exposure to hazardous substances, or otherwise minimizing harm to human health and the environment.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in introducing legislation to strengthen and reauthorize the heart of the federal government’s energy efficiency strategy—the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act of 2019 would reauthorize the program through 2024.
Washington, D.C. – In a letter sent to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler, U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Tom Carper (D-DE), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in urging the Administration to withdraw a proposed rule that could lead to changes to the EPA’s Mercury Rule.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the President signed into law a permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as part of a public lands legislative package. The legislation previously passed the Senate and the House by overwhelming bipartisan majorities.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) $789,659 in grant funding to examine the impact of a warming climate on growth and population patterns in cod and lobster. The study will also document marine habitat shifts across the northwest Atlantic caused by rising temperatures.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), and U.S. Representatives Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) today reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral companion legislation that would incentivize the use of energy efficiency biomass heaters in homes and businesses instead of relying on fossil fuel energy.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that she will oppose the confirmation of Andrew Wheeler to become Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Her full statement follows:
“After careful consideration, I have decided to oppose the confirmation of Andrew Wheeler, the nominee for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Washington, D.C. – Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as part of a public lands legislative package by a vote of 363-62. The legislation previously passed the Senate by a vote of 92-8 and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, the Senate passed a public lands package that includes language authored by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, and Susan Collins (R-Maine) that addresses the concerns of communities near Acadia National Park (ANP) about boundary issues, protects the use of intertidal zones by harvesters of clams and worms, and permanently reauthorizes the Acadia National Park Commission.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate approved a permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as part of a public lands legislative package. The legislation passed by a vote of 92-8 will now be considered by the House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined a bipartisan group of Senators in reintroducing legislation to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) with increased urgency given the program’s lapse in September 2018.
Washington, D.C. – On the 30th anniversary of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing legislation to reauthorize NAWCA through 2024. The legislation would also increase authorized annual funding for the program to $60 million.
Washington, D.C. – Mercury is a potent neurotoxin of significant ecological and public health concern, especially for children and pregnant women. An estimated 200,000 children born in the United States each year are exposed to levels of mercury in the womb that are high enough to impair neurological development.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $100,000 to the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township to fund a study for a potential hydrogen-powered Business/Internet/Data Center on the Passamaquoddy reservation. Results of this study will identify the resources necessary for sustainable operations—including workforce development, capital, business management, legal services, and administrative support—which will help diversify the regional economy.
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