CONSTITUENTS SHOULD USE MAINE OFFICES DURING WASHINGTON SHUTDOWN

WASHINGTON, DC -- Traces of ricin, a deadly poison, which were found in mail sent to the Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist''s office, has temporarily closed all three Senate Office Building, including Senator Collins''s offices. As a result, Senator Collins has directed her constituents to her state offices if they wish to contact her. A sizeable amount of mail has been impounded and it is likely that Senate mail will be experiencing further delays because of the ricin situation. Therefore, Senator Collins has suggested that constituents send their mail to one of her state offices. Constituents can also email Senator Collins office by logging on to her website at www.collins.senate.gov.

Senator Collins, who chairs the Governmental Affairs Committee that oversees homeland security, has released the following statement:

"I fervently hope that the perpetrators of this crime are brought to justice. I am relieved that no injuries have been reported in this incident and hope that will continue to be the case. In the meantime, we are determined not to let this action significantly disrupt the operation of the Senate.

"We have learned many lessons over the past couple of years and as a result we are better prepared to respond to a situation like this. The Capitol Police are handling this matter as well as possible, balancing the need to have the Senate open for business with concerns about public safety. The Senate has remained in session and we hope to be back in our offices soon. Until then, the best way for constituents to reach us is either by email or through one of my six offices in Maine."

Since mail that has already reached the Senate must undergo further screening, Senator Collins is recommending that constituents send letters to her Maine offices or send email correspondence. The addresses to Senator Collins''s Maine offices are as follows:

Augusta - 168 Capitol Street, Augusta, ME 04330 Bangor - PO Box 655, 202 Harlow St., Room 204, Bangor, ME 04402 Biddeford - 160 Main St., Biddeford, ME 04005 Caribou - 25 Sweden St., Ste A., Caribou, ME 04736 Lewiston - 11 Lisbon St., Lewiston, ME 04240 Portland - One City Center, Ste. 100, Portland, ME 04101

It is unknown how long the offices will be closed, but Senator Collins will continue to work at her Capitol office, while her staff is equipped to work from their homes until the senate offices are once again cleared for entrance.

Senator Collins''s state offices are unaffected and will maintain regular working hours.