Senator Collins Chairs Hearing on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren as a Result of the Opioid Crisis
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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.
King, Collins, Schatz Introduce Bill to Help America’s Seniors Safely Age at Home
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As more Americans are choosing to grow older in their own homes, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) today introduced legislation that will help make independent living less burdensome.
Senators Collins, Brown, Nelson, Capito Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Seniors from High Costs of Necessary Medical Care
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to update a current loophole in Medicare policy that would help protect seniors from high medical costs for the skilled nursing care they require after hospitalization. The Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act would allow for the time patients spend in the hospital under “observation status” to count toward the requisite three-day hospital stay for coverage of skilled nursing care.
Senators Collins, McCaskill Urge Senate Banking Committee to Consider Senior$afe Act of 2017
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), the Chairman and former Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, sent a letter to the leadership of the Senate Banking Committee today, urging consideration of the Senior$afe Act of 2017 (S. 223).
Collins, Casey, Grassley, Leahy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Older Workers from Discrimination
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob Casey (D-PA), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, along with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), introduced the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA). The legislation would restore the ability of older workers to take legal action when age discrimination affected their professional opportunities. Additionally, it would reaffirm that workers may use any type of admissible evidence to prove their claims.
Senators Collins, Cantwell Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Preserve Home Health Care for Rural Seniors
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced bipartisan legislation that will help ensure that home health care remains an option for seniors in rural communities. The Preserve Access to Medicare Rural Home Health Services Act would ensure that home health agencies serving patients in rural areas continue to receive additional payments to help compensate for the higher costs that they face.
AARP Endorses Senior$afe Act of 2017
Nation’s largest senior group says “this legislation protects individuals at financial institutions who disclose suspected financial exploitation of senior citizens to appropriate agencies, and requires the financial institution to provide training on identifying and handling of potential exploitation.”
Senate Aging Committee to Examine New Developments In Fight Against Senior Fraud
Wednesday, February 1, 2:30 PM, Dirksen Room 562
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Bob Casey, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, will hold a hearing on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at 2:30 pm, in SD-562, titled, “Stopping Senior Scams: Developments in Financial Fraud Affecting Seniors.”
Senator Collins Warns Of Persistent Grandparent Scam
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, is warning of an increasing number of calls to the committee’s Fraud Hotline reporting of a persistent phone scam that targets grandparents.
Through this so-called “Grandparent Scam,” of which there are multiple variations, scammers typically call an older adult pretending to be a family member, often a grandchild. The con artist claims to be in urgent need of money to cover medical care or a legal problem, such as for bail or legal services following a supposed arrest.
Senators Collins, McCaskill Introduce the Senior $afe Act of 2017
Washington, D.C. — Senators Susan Collins and Claire McCaskill, the Chairman and former Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, today introduced the bipartisan “Senior$afe Act of 2017.” This bipartisan legislation would put in place a commonsense plan to help protect American seniors from financial exploitation and fraud by providing support to regulators, financial institutions, and legal organizations to educate their employees about how to identify and prevent financial exploitation of older Americans.
Collins, Klobuchar Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on Fraud Targeted at Seniors Passes Commerce Committee, Heads to Full Senate for Vote
Schemes targeting seniors include fraudulent investment plans, prizes and sweepstakes, internet fraud, charity scams, predatory home lenders, telemarketing and mail fraud, accessing assets through undue influence, using fraudulent legal documents, and Ponzi schemes
Aging Committee Chair Collins and Ranking Member Casey Applaud FTC and Justice Department Announcement of Settlement with Western Union on Consumer Fraud Charges
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Bob Casey, Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, applauded the Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of Justice’s announcement of a settlement with Western Union in which the company admits to criminal anti-money laundering violations that have negatively and disproportionately affected aging Americans.
Sens. Collins, Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on Fraud Targeted at Seniors
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today introduced bipartisan legislation to crack down on fraud targeted at seniors. Schemes targeting seniors include fraudulent investment plans, prizes, and sweepstakes, internet fraud, charity scams, predatory home lenders, telemarketing and mail fraud, accessing assets through undue influence, using fraudulent legal documents, and Ponzi schemes.
"Trust Betrayed: Financial Abuse of Older Americans by Guardians and Others in Power"
Earlier this year, an attorney in Belfast was sentenced to 30 months in prison for bilking two elderly female clients out of nearly a half a million dollars over the course of several years.
Aging Committee Chairman Collins and Ranking Member McCaskill Hold Hearing on Elder Financial Abuse: “Trust Betrayed: Financial Abuse of Older Americans by Guardians and Others in Power”
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Elder Abuse a Growing Problem in Maine: Executive Director of Legal Services for the Elderly Testifies before Senate Aging Committee
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In a Continuation of Their Efforts to Protect Seniors from Exploitation, Aging Committee Chairman Collins and Ranking Member McCaskill to Unveil Report on Elder Financial Abuse
Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, November 30th, at 2:30 p.m. in Dirksen 562
Click HERE to watch live
Senator Collins Warns of Emerging Text Messaging Scam
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, is warning seniors of a new phishing scam. Through this scam, of which there are multiple variations, con artists send a text message that appears to have been sent from a well-known financial institution – such as a bank or a mortgage company – alerting potential victims of “suspicious activity” on their accounts and directing them to contact the bank.
Senators Collins and King Applaud SEC Decision to Delay Proposal Requiring Investors to Opt In to Receive Financial Information in Paper Form
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement today on the recent announcement that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has decided to not pursue a proposed rule at this time that would have required individuals to opt in to receive mutual fund information in paper form. Senators Collins and King have strongly advocated to keep paper as the default delivery method for financial disclosures.
Senator Collins Leads Discussion on Aging as Inaugural Speaker of ‘Dirigo Speaks,’ Receives AARP’s Congressional Award
Click HERE to read Senator Collins’ remarks as prepared for delivery
National Falls Prevention Day: Raising Awareness About the Dangers of Falls
September 22, 2016, marked the first day of the fall season, a time to enjoy Maine’s beautiful foliage and crisp weather. It also was National Falls Prevention Day, a time to better educate seniors, families, and caregivers – as well as government and civic organizations – about the practices, programs, and policies that can be taken to reduce the risk of falls.
Senate Finance Committee Passes Retirement Security Measures Championed by Senator Collins
Improvements will make it easier for small businesses to offer retirement plans, help address nation’s $7.7 trillion retirement savings gap
When employees have access to retirement plans, approximately 80 percent contribute
Collins, Cardin Lead 2016 Senate Recognition of Direct Support Professionals
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced a Senate resolution celebrating "National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week.” The resolution recognizes the hard work of direct support professionals during the week of September 12th.
Aging Committee Unveils Report Identifying Ways for Seniors to Maximize Social Security Benefits
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Collins, McCaskill Request Additional Information on Wells Fargo’s Illegal Practices
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Claire McCaskill, who together lead the Senate Aging Committee, today requested additional information from the government concerning the recently announced settlement with Wells Fargo, and whether it disproportionately affected America’s seniors. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently determined that Wells Fargo employees had illegally opened millions of accounts that consumers had never requested in order to boost individual performance goals and bonuses.
Fighting to Protect Seniors’ Access to Their Online Social Security Accounts
A few weeks ago, Westbrook resident Cathy Wiles called my Portland Constituent Service Center to alert me to a new Social Security Administration (SSA) policy that could have prevented seniors from accessing their online “my Social Security” accounts. The change, which was scheduled to take effect on August 1st, would have made text messaging the only means of verifying individuals’ identities and guaranteeing access to their accounts online.
Senators Collins, McCaskill Request Urgent Briefing & Information on Mylan’s Decision-Making Process to Raise the Price of EpiPen® by 480%
WASHINGTON, D.C.— In response to the skyrocketing price of EpiPen® and news reports that this price increase is limiting patient access to this life saving anecdote for allergic reactions, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Claire McCaskill, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, sent a letter to Heather Bresch, the CEO of Mylan, to request answers and information about the company's drastic price increase of EpiPen® by 480% since 2008.
Senators Collins, McCaskill Urge Immediate Action to Ensure All Seniors Have Safe and Speedy Access to Accounts
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Claire McCaskill, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, sent a letter to the Social Security Administration (SSA) today urging immediate action to ensure all seniors have safe and speedy access to their Social Security accounts.
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