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Senator Collins Casts 6,000th Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins cast her 6,000th consecutive roll call vote. The fourth term, senior Senator from Maine has never missed a vote since taking office in January 1997—a record that makes her the longest-serving member of the current United States Senate never to have missed a roll call vote.
 
Immediately preceding her 6,000th vote, Senate Leaders from both parties including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), congratulated Senator Collins on this remarkable milestone.
 
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: “I’m not sure surgery, a tsunami, or the most wicked Maine Nor-easter could stop the woman who occupies Margaret Chase Smith’s seat today…This means our colleague from Maine hasn’t missed a single vote during her entire Senate tenure. Not one sick day in more than 18 years…It’s remarkable…Our colleague is willing to do just about anything to ensure she’s here in this chamber, representing the people of Maine. I ask the entire Senate to join me in congratulating her as she celebrates this notable milestone…” CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
 
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid: “It’s no surprise to me that Susan Collins is such a hard worker. She started this as a young woman digging potatoes for 30 cents a barrel at her neighbors farm in Caribou, Maine…Hard work and diligence is her byword…She is a person who is truly an independent Senator. I admire the work that she has done…I am so proud to link my voice to congratulate this good woman, the Senior Senator from the State of Maine…” CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
 
U.S. Senator Angus King (ME): “I want to rise to congratulate my esteemed colleague, my esteemed Senior Colleague, for this accomplishment. And I think it’s important to realize that we all know the logistical challenges of making every single vote, but what she has done is symbolic to her service to this country and to the state of Maine. It’s not just making every vote—that is symbolic of an intense, fierce commitment to this body, to this institution, and to the country…Senator Collins, what an accomplishment, Thank you on behalf of the people of Maine and the people of this country...” CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
 
U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD): “On behalf of all the women in the Senate, we would like to congratulate Senator Collins on this enormous and significant milestone…She certainly is in the tradition of a very esteemed predecessor from the State of Maine, Margaret Chase Smith…We want to congratulate her because she is a fierce fighter for Maine, she is absolutely independent, and for her it’s not the other side of the aisle. For her it is not about aisles, it is about building bridges…We say to Senator Collins ‘keep at it.’ Many more votes and many more years to come…” CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
 

Click HERE to download a high quality audio statment from Senator Collins