Today, nearly 22 million Americans hold the distinguished title of Veteran, and more than 127,000 of those individuals live in our great State of Maine. As the daughter of a World War II Purple Heart recipient, Senator Collins learned first-hand of the sacrifice that these heroes and their families make to advance the cause of freedom. Fighting on behalf of our nation’s Veterans, Senator Collins has worked to support the needs of Veterans nationwide by protecting access to rural health care, holding the Department of Veterans Affairs accountable in the wake of scandal, and expediting the process for disabled veterans to get the services they need.
Veterans Day is one of the most sacred days on our national calendar. This year, it was a special pleasure to spend that day of remembrance and gratitude in Freedom, Maine, a town whose very name celebrates the great gift we have been given by our veterans and those who serve today.
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Susan Collins met with Fourteenth Street School Principal Dan Chadbourne and teacher Kim Scaves along with Bangor School Department Superintendent Betsy Webb in her Washington, D.C., office. In September, Fourteenth Street School in Bangor was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2017 National Blue Ribbon Schools. Fourteenth Street School is one of only three Maine schools—and one of only 342 public and private schools nationwide—to be recognized for this highly prestigious achievement in 2017.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King announced today that the State of Maine will receive up to $2,705,671.57 for a renovation and expansion project currently underway at the Maine Veterans’ Home facility in Bangor. The funding was awarded through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) State Home Construction Grant Program.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the University of Southern Maine (USM) will receive $263,938 through the U.S. Department of Education’s Veterans Upward Bound Program. This is the first time Maine has received this grant, which is designed to help veterans who are the first in their family to attend college develop the skills necessary to succeed in postsecondary education programs.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded the passage of the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 they cosponsored that provides $2.1 billion in emergency funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund the Veterans Choice Program for an additional six months. The program helps veterans across Maine and the nation receive health care within their communities and allows veterans in Northern Maine to continue to utilize community care as they did under the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) pilot.
Click HERE to read the text of the resolution
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a provision she authored aiming to preserve Northern Maine veterans’ access to health care. Senator Collins is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.
Specifically, Senator Collins’ provision directs the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that veterans who participated in the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) pilot maintain continuity of care through the use of provider agreements.
Washington, D.C. — Bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) that will help reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been signed into law. The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act will allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to dismiss bad employees and ensure appropriate due process protections for whistleblowers.
Sen. Susan M. Collins
The effects of military service often do not end with a tour of duty. For some veterans and their families, the journey may extend for a lifetime. For those veterans bearing both the visible and invisible scars of conflict, the transition home is often not easy. Recovery, too, can take decades. Along the way, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and other family members and friends step in to serve.
Sen. Susan M. Collins
In small towns and big cities across our country, Americans recently gathered to commemorate Memorial Day and honor those who died in the service of our country. This solemn day of gratitude allows us to reflect on the fact that our freedom is a gift purchased at the greatest possible price.
Washington, D.C. - In advance of Memorial Day, U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement:
“Throughout America, we gather on this solemn day of gratitude. In small towns and big cities, we honor those who gave their all for all of us. We are reminded that freedom is a gift purchased at the greatest possible price.
“From America’s founding to our time, the men and women of our armed forces have written the history of freedom. From generation to generation, they add new and inspiring chapters of valor, devotion to duty, and sacrifice.”
Washington, D.C. — Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), today introduced bipartisan legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 23d Special Headquarters Troops and the 3133rd Signal Service Company, U.S. Army units that served in World War II and were known as the “Ghost Army.” These units were instrumental to Allied successes at the Battle of the Bulge and the final battles in Italy’s Po Valley.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King announced today that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded $479,155.51 through the State Home Construction Grant Program for a recently completed renovation project at Maine Veterans’ Homes’ Scarborough facility.
Washington, D.C. - U.S Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the bipartisan Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act to make health care more affordable for America’s veterans.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin today sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requesting that they include funding for 24 VA medical facility leases in the President’s FY 2018 budget request.
Click HERE to read the text of the resolution
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King issued this statement following the announcement by the Department of Defense that Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Kyle Milliken, a Falmouth, Maine, native, was killed during an operation against al-Shabaab in Somalia.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues to write to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies urging them to support robust funding for State Veterans’ Homes that help provide long-term care to American veterans. Federal funds provided by the State Veterans’ Home Construction Grant Program allow states to make critical facility upgrades or construct new facilities to serve aging veteran populations.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin are warning Maine veterans to beware of a scam where imposters attempt to imitate the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) phone line.
Through this scam, a phone line has been set up by an unknown party to potentially mimic the VCP phone line. The imposter phone line may be intended to reach veterans who inadvertently dial the VCP number incorrectly.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin were encouraged by the findings in a report released today by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) on mental health consults and access to care issues at the VA Maine Healthcare System (VA Maine).
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to expand a successful program that helps those who care for wounded, ill, or injured veterans. The Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act would open the program to veterans of all eras, making resources available to more of the family members and other loved ones who have taken on a caregiver role for veterans.
Click HERE to watch Senator Collins deliver remarks at the VFW reception
Washington, D.C. — The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) honored Senator Collins at a legislative reception this evening for her steadfast support of veterans and commitment to strengthening America’s national security. VFW is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of nearly 1.7 million veterans and military service members from the active, guard, and reserve forces.
Washington, D.C. — In recognition of her “unwavering support of veterans, service members and their families,” as well as for “strengthening America through strong national security programs,” Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander Brian Duffy bestowed the 2017 Congressional Award on U.S. Senator Susan Collins today. Both Maine and national members of the VFW attended the ceremony, including Maine Commander Steven SanPedro.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins spoke from the Senate floor today to express her strong support for the nomination of Dr. David Shulkin to be the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) took action today to exempt critical personnel from the recently announced federal civilian hiring freeze. Previously, U.S.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) led a bipartisan group of 15 Senators, including Senator Angus King (I-ME), to reintroduce the bipartisan Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act. The legislation would authorize pending leases for 24 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities, the majority of which have been awaiting Congressional approval for more than a year. These medical facilities—located in 15 states, including Maine—are necessary to improve veterans’ access to vital health care services.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As President-elect Donald Trump considers a 100-day hiring freeze for civilian federal employees, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) today urged him not to include critical personnel from the Department of Veterans Affairs who work to provide care and support to veterans in Maine and across the nation.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Senate has unanimously passed a resolution designating Saturday, December 17, 2016 as “Wreaths Across America Day.”
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