Senior Issues | Senator Susan Collins

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As the Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Senator Collins’ priorities include retirement security, highlighting the importance of biomedical research on diseases like Alzheimer’s and diabetes, and scams targeting seniors.

As the Senate Co-Chair of the Congressional Alzheimer’s Task Force, the Senator is particularly committed to putting an end to Alzheimer’s disease, which has had such a devastating effect on 5.2 million Americans and their families.

To visit the Senate Special Committee on Aging’s website, click here.

Senators Collins, Brown Introduce Bipartisan Bill That Would Provide Diabetic Patients with Better Access to Therapeutic Shoes

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced a bipartisan bill that would improve access to care for diabetic patients who require therapeutic shoes called the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act. Diabetes can be a serious disease that can sometimes lead to health complications including the amputation of toes, feet, or legs.

Collins, Casey Bill to Improve Senior Food Box Program Clears Committee

Click HERE to read the bill

House Passes Bill to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Washington, DC — Today, U.S.

Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Urging Administration to Improve Hurricane Relief Efforts

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting an update on hurricane preparation efforts, specifically for older Americans and those with disabilities. The letter was also signed by Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Bob Casey (D-PA).

Older Americans and Opioid Misuse: Supporting An Often Overlooked Population in the Opioid Crisis

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ICYMI: CBS’s “60 Minutes” Spotlights Senator Collins’ Work to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren as a Result of the Opioid Crisis

“When Opioids Impact the Whole Family”

Bangor Emergency Medicine Physician Testifies on Opioid Crisis’ Effect on Older Americans

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Bill Authored by Sens. Collins, McCaskill to Protect Seniors from Scams Heads to President’s Desk to be Signed into Law

Washington, D.C. – The Senior $afe Act, a bipartisan bill authored by U.S.

Senators Collins, Casey Introduce Legislation to Address Critical Shortage of Geriatric Health Professionals

Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ Q&A with Dr. Phelan

Senate Unanimously Passes Collins-Casey Resolution Designating May as “Older Americans Month”

Washington, D.C.— The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Bob Casey, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, designating the month of May as “Older Americans Month.” The resolution recognizes the success of older Americans and the important role they have in our society.

Senate Passes Collins, King Resolution Recognizing ITN America on Providing One Millionth Ride to Seniors, Visually Impaired

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), recognizing the Independent Transportation Network of America (ITN) on providing its one millionth ride to older and visually impaired individuals.

Senators Collins, Warner, and Markey Lead Letter to Appropriations Committee Calling for Increased Investment in Alzheimer’s Research

Washington, D.C. – In a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Ed Markey (D-MA) requested an increase in funding for Alzheimer’s disease research as they work to set appropriations levels for fiscal year 2019. Senator Collins is the founder of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's disease and co-chairs the group with Senators Warner, Markey, and Pat Toomey (R-PA).

Bill to Help Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Due to Opioid Crisis Passes Senate

Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ranking Member Bob Casey (D-PA) celebrated the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act (S. 1091), which would create a federal task force charged with supporting grandparents raising grandchildren as the opioid epidemic increases their numbers. The U.S.

Senate Passes Senators Collins, McCaskill’s Bill to Protect Seniors from Scams

Washington, D.C. —The Senior $afe Act, a bipartisan bill authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) to help protect American seniors from financial exploitation and fraud, cleared a key hurdle this evening by passing the Senate as part of a bipartisan banking reform package. Their legislation previously passed the House of Representatives.

Stopping Senior Scams: Efforts to Prevent Fraud Targeting Older Americans Examined by Senate Aging Committee

Click HERE to read the Senate Aging Committee’s 2018 Fraud Book

Victims of Grandparent Scam from Saco Testify at Hearing on Fraud Targeting Older Americans

Click HERE for a copy of Senato

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Largest-Ever Action to Fight Senior Fraud: An Encouraging Step in Our Work to Protect Older Americans

On Feb, 22, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the largest-ever coordinated sweep of senior fraud cases. More than 250 defendants have been charged with scamming more than a million victims in excess of a half-billion dollars.

Largest-Ever Action to Fight Senior Fraud: An Encouraging Step in Our Work to Protect Older Americans

Department of Justice Announces Largest-Ever Law Enforcement Action to Protect Seniors from Fraud Following Advocacy from Senators Collins, Casey

Washington, D.C.—U.S.

Senator Collins with Patty Bernard

Mainer with Rheumatoid Arthritis Testifies at Senate Aging Committee Hearing

Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins and Mrs. Bernard

Senators Collins, McCaskill’s Bill to Protect Seniors from Financial Exploitation and Fraud Advances

Washington, D.C. —The Senior $afe Act, a bipartisan bill authored by U.S.

Sen. Collins at Aging Hearing

Senate Aging Committee Examines Critical Decisions Facing Americans Turning 65

Click HERE for a high-resolution photo

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Supporting Family Caregivers

Across the United States, more than 40 million Americans provide care for parents, spouses, children, and other relatives with disabilities or illness. Here in our State, about 178,000 Mainers care for their loved ones and help them live in their homes and communities.

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Senator Collins Visits Schooner Estates Senior Living Community in Auburn

Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins with Hope Weston and John Orestis

ICYMI: AARP Applauds Passage of Senator Collins’ RAISE Family Caregivers Act

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2018 -- AARP welcomes passage in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives of the bipartisan Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act (H.R. 3759). The legislation, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and in the U.S. House by Representatives Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), requires the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a strategy to support the nation's 40 million family caregivers.

Majority Leader McConnell, Speaker Ryan Release Statement Recognizing Senator Collins’ Effort to Prevent $25 Billion Cut to Medicare

Washington, D.C.—Following the passage of a continuing resolution that includes a provision preventing an automatic cut to Medicare, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) released a statement recognizing Senator Collins’ efforts to ensure this $25 billion reduction did not go into effect.

Congress Averts $25 Billion Cut to Medicare Following Effort Led by Senator Collins

Senator Collins urged swift action to avert these cuts and secured commitments from Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan to avoid an automatic 4% cut to Medicare

Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ remarks on the Senate floor

Aging Committee Warns of Email Phishing Scam Targeting Homeowners

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee and Chairman of the Senate Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, is warning of a new phishing email scam involving impersonators claiming to work for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Collins, Klobuchar, Baldwin Press Strongbridge Biopharma for Answers on Dramatic Price Increase for Keveyis Drug that Treats Glaucoma and Rare Genetic Disease

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) have pressed Strongbridge Biopharma for answers on the dramatic price increase for Keveyis, formerly known as Daranide, a drug that treats glaucoma and a type of rare genetic disease known as periodic paralysis, which causes attacks of muscle weakness or loss of muscle movement. After a series of companies bought and sold the right to the decades-old dichlorphenamide, the list price was hiked from $50 to $13,650 for 100 pills in 2015.

House Passes Collins-Authored Bill to Support Family Caregivers

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today applauded House passage of the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators Collins and Baldwin in May 2017, would establish a coordinated strategy to support family caregivers.

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