Weekly Columns

December 17, 2010

"A National Plan To Combat Alzheimer's"

Alzheimer's disease takes a tremendous personal and economic toll on both the individual and the family. As someone whose family has experienced the pain of Alzheimer's too...

December 10, 2010

"Wreaths Across America"

It has become a poignant holiday tradition and a national phenomenon. For 19 years, Morrill and Karen Worcester, owners of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, have...

December 03, 2010

"A Two-Year Tax Relief Extension Will Prevent A Tax Hike On Families And Small Businesses"

Unfortunately, the national unemployment rate in November rose to 9.8 percent, the highest level since April. In addition, the economy added only 39,000 jobs that month, far...

November 19, 2010

"Closing The Gaps In Aviation Security"

In the past 12 months, the United States has narrowly avoided two terrorist plots directed against aviation. The first occurred last Christmas Day aboard a passenger plane in...

November 10, 2010

“Remembering Our Nation’s Veterans”

Veterans Day was established to commemorate that precise moment – the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 – when the guns of the First World War fell...

November 05, 2010

Celebrating Maine's Blue Ribbon Schools

One of my favorite things to do as a U.S. Senator is to visit students in schools throughout the state of Maine. I have visited more than 175 schools since I came to the United...

October 22, 2010

Voting & Public Service; A Strong Maine Tradition

Mainers have a proud tradition of being among the most active and involved voters in the country. Election after election, we go to the polls in large numbers, which results in...

October 11, 2010

"Big Opportunities For Maine Small Businesses"

Throughout government, agencies purchase a broad range of goods and services that can benefit from the private sector's efficiency and innovation. Last year, the value of federal...

October 01, 2010

"Protecting Maine's Paper Industry"

Our nation's manufacturers and their employees can compete against the best in the world, but they cannot compete against foreign manufacturers who receive huge government...

September 24, 2010

"Maine's Drug Take-Back Program: A National Model"

More Mainers died last year from drug overdoses than traffic fatalities. This startling statistic is especially disturbing considering that 92 percent of the overdoses involved...

September 17, 2010

"Setting America On A New Financial Course"

More than eight million Americans have lost their jobs since the "Great Recession" began in 2008. Unemployment remains unacceptably high - increasing to 9.6 percent just...

September 03, 2010

"Maine Businessess: Surviving And Thriving"

To me, the best part of Congress' annual August recess is the opportunity it gives me to travel throughout our beautiful state and to visit with our great people. A highlight of...

August 30, 2010

"The Prudence Of Planning: National Preparedness Month"

The power of prudent, painstaking planning cannot be underestimated. For me, the most profound advice about the constant need for critical planning and preparation comes from the...

August 13, 2010

"Celebrating The 20th Anniversary Of The Americans With Disabilities Act"

"Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down." Those were the stirring words spoken by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, as he took up his...

August 06, 2010

"Getting It Right -- Stopping Impromper Federal Payments"

It is unacceptable that, in the last fiscal year, the federal government misspent a mountain of your tax dollars - an estimated $100 billion. The payment blunders occurred in...

July 30, 2010

"Restoring Arlington National Cemetery's Credibility"

Nearly every American can picture the peaceful, rolling green hills, dotted with row upon row of bleached-white headstones. This iconic image of Arlington National Cemetery is...

July 24, 2010

"USDA Should Include Potato In WIC Program"

I grew up in Aroostook County, which has been called the "Potato Capital of America." One of...

July 16, 2010

"Reforming Wall Street: An Economic Imperative"

In the fall of 2008, America faced an unprecedented upheaval in financial markets that triggered the deepest recession in decades. For several years, the financial sector had been...

July 10, 2010

"Drug Waste And Disposal: When Prescriptions Become Poison"

For those dealing with illness or in pain, prescription medications can be a blessing. Unused or expired prescriptions, however, if not disposed of properly, can become poison. An...

July 01, 2010

"Celebrating Maine's Role In America's Independence"

The Fourth of July is a day of noisy, joyful celebration. With fireworks, parades, picnics, and fun with friends and family, America throws itself a birthday party every...