In
Wake
of
Recent
Hurricanes,
Senator
Collins
Chairs
Hearing
on
Disaster
Planning
for
Older
Americans
Senators
Collins
and
Casey
Introduced
Legislation
to
Establish
National
Panel
on
Seniors
and
Disasters
Senator
Susan
Collins,
the
Chairman
of
the
Senate
Aging
Committee,
held
a
hearing
last
month
titled,
“Disaster
Preparedness
and
Response:
The
Special
Needs
of
Older
Americans,”
to
review
policies
and
procedures
for
sheltering
in
place,
evacuating,
and
relocating
some
of
our
most
vulnerable
citizens
before
disaster
strikes.
The
hearing,
which
featured
testimony
from
two
health
care
experts
and
two
emergency
strategists,
focused
on
lessons
learned
from
responses
to
past
disasters
and
examined
what
more
can
be
done
to
ensure
the
health,
safety,
and
resilience
of
older
Americans
during
and
after
a
catastrophe,
such
as
a
hurricane.
“As
the
recent
disasters
caused
by
Hurricanes
Harvey,
Irma,
and
Maria
made
clear,
older
Americans
are
particularly
vulnerable
before,
during,
and
even
after
a
storm,”
said
Senator
Collins.
“While
we
have
made
strides
since
Hurricane
Katrina
12
years
ago,
we
must
ask
ourselves:
Can
we
better
protect
the
most
vulnerable
members
of
our
communities?
What
gaps
exist
that
could
jeopardize
lives
in
the
next
catastrophe,
whether
it’s
a
storm,
earthquake,
or
some
other
unanticipated
event?
We
should
not
have
to
wait
for
the
next
catastrophe
to
strike.”
Senators
Collins,
Bill
Nelson
(D-FL),
Marco
Rubio
(R-FL),
and
Bob
Casey
(D-PA)
have
introduced
the
Protecting
Seniors
During
Disasters
Act,
which
would
create
a
national
advisory
committee
dedicated
to
improving
preparations
and
care
for
seniors
during
an
emergency.
Senators
Collins
and
King
and
Congresswoman
Pingree
Announce
Contracts
Awarded
to
BIW
to
Build
Two
New
Destroyers
Maine
Delegation
Welcomes
Secretary
of
the
Navy
to
Bath
Iron
Works
Senators
Susan
Collins
and
Angus
King
and
Congresswoman
Chellie
Pingree
announced
that
the
U.S.
Navy
awarded
contracts
to
Bath
Iron
Works
(BIW)
to
build
two
new
DDG-51
destroyers.
As
a
senior
member
of
the
Senate
Appropriations
Committee,
Senator
Collins
secured
the
funding
for
the
construction
of
these
ships.
“These
contracts
to
construct
two
new
DDG-51
class
destroyers
in
Bath
demonstrates
the
Navy’s
commitment
to
BIW
and
its
confidence
in
the
highly
skilled,
hard-working
employees
at
the
shipyard.
There
is
no
workforce
in
the
world
better
positioned
to
build
these
ships,”
said
Senators
Collins
and
King
and
Representative
Pingree
in
a
joint
statement.
“As
the
workhorses
of
the
Navy,
destroyers’
ability
to
deliver
capability
and
presence
has
been
demonstrated
many
times
over.
These
ships
will
strengthen
our
naval
fleet
and
allow
the
Navy
to
promote
stability
and
security
in
the
face
of
proliferating
threats
around
the
globe.”
Following
the
announcement
of
the
contract
awards,
the
Maine
congressional
delegation
welcomed
Navy
Secretary
Richard
Spencer
to
BIW,
where
he
met
with
BIW
officials
and
employees
and
toured
the
facility.
Senators
Collins
and
King
invited
Secretary
Spencer
to
Maine
so
that
he
could
see
firsthand
the
excellent
work
performed
by
the
highly
skilled
employees
at
BIW
to
build
and
maintain
the
Navy
fleet.
Legislation
Introduced
by
Senator
Collins
to
Support
Family
Caregivers
Unanimously
Passes
Senate
Senators
Susan
Collins
and
Tammy
Baldwin
(D-WI)
recently
announced
the
unanimous
passage
of
the
RAISE
Family
Caregivers
Act
by
the
U.S.
Senate.
This
bipartisan
legislation
would
establish
a
coordinated
strategy
to
support
family
caregivers.
It now
heads
to
the
U.S.
House
of
Representatives.
“Family
caregivers
play
an
essential
role
in
our
communities
by
dedicating
time
and
attention
and
making
countless
personal
and
financial
sacrifices
to
care
for
their
loved
ones,”
said
Senator
Collins.
“I
am
delighted
that
the
Senate
unanimously
passed
our
bipartisan
legislation,
which
will
develop
a
coordinated
strategic
plan
to
leverage
our
resources,
promote
best
practices,
and
expand
services
and
training
available
to
caregivers.”
Americans
85
and
older
are
the
fastest
growing
segment
of
the
aging
population.
This
population
is
most
at
risk
for
multiple
and
interacting
health
problems
that
can
lead
to
disability
and
the
need
for
round-the-clock
care.
Click
HERE
to
read
more
about
Senators
Collins
and
Baldwin’s
legislation.
Home
Care
and
Hospice
Alliance
of
Maine
Honors
Senator
Collins
with
“Ruby
Slipper”
Award
“Senator
Susan
Collins
was
honored
by
the
Home
Care
and
Hospice
Alliance
of
Maine.
“The
non-profit
trade
organization,
which
supports
the
more
than
7,000
home
care
and
hospice
employees
in
the
state,
gave
Collins
the
Ruby
Slipper
Award.
“It's
been
presented
on
four
other
occasions
since
being
introduced
in
2011,
and
was
awarded
to
Collins
for
her
continuous
service
in
the
cause
for
caring
for
others.
“Collins
is
the
Chairman
of
the
Senate
Aging
Committee.
“She
says
she's
recently
introduced
a
bill
called
the
Home
Health
Planning
Act.
“‘This
bill
which
I've
introduced
is
bipartisan
(and)
would
improve
access
for
Medicare
beneficiaries
by
allowing
not
only
physicians,
but
physician
assistants,
nurse
practitioners,
clinical
nurse
specialists,
and
certified
nurse
midwives
to
authorize
home
health
services,’
said
Collins,
(R).
“Alliance
members
say
Collins'
work
to
investigate
and
examine
issues
important
to
Maine
seniors
made
her
a
perfect
candidate
for
the
award.”
Click HERE
to
read
the
full
story
on
WABI's
website.
Following
Senator
Collins’
Advocacy,
UMPI
Receives
$600,000
Grant
to
Help
Low-Income,
First-Generation
Students
Pursue
Higher
Education
Earlier
this
year,
the
Department
of
Education
prohibited
the
University
of
Maine
at
Presque
Isle’s
Upward
Bound
grant
application
from
being
considered
due
to
a
minor
line
spacing
issue.
The
absurd
bureaucratic
decision
jeopardized
nearly
1,000
Mainers’
access
to
the
Upward
Bound
program,
which
helps
low-income,
first-generation,
and
other
students
from
disadvantaged
backgrounds
pursue
higher
education.
Following
Senator
Susan
Collins’
strong
advocacy,
which
included
securing
two
provisions
in
the
fiscal
year
2017
Consolidated
Appropriations
Act,
the
Department
of
Education
reversed
its
original
decision
and
allowed
UMPI’s
application
to
move
forward.
In
August,
Senator
Collins
announced
that
UMPI’s
application
was
approved
and
the
University
was
awarded
$639,257
for
its
Upward
Bound
Program.
“I
am
absolutely
delighted
that
UMPI
was
awarded
more
than
$639,000
for
its
Upward
Bound
Program,”
said
Senator
Collins.
“The
Department
of
Education’s
initial
refusal
to
review
this
application
due
to
a
minor
line
spacing
issue
was
absurd.
It
is
no
surprise
that
when
the
Department
reversed
this
decisionafter
a
months-long
push
from
the
Maine
delegationand
agreed
to
review
the
application
on
the
merits,
UMPI’s
application
was
selected.
This
funding
will
help
nearly
1,000
students
over
the
next
five
years
who
depend
on
Upward
Bound
to
pursue
their
higher
education
goals.”
At
YCCC
Eggs
&
Issues
Breakfast,
Senator
Collins
Discusses
Importance
of
Apprenticeships
and
Employers
Partnering
with
Educators
Senator
Collins
delivered
the
keynote
address
and
took
questions
from
members
of
the
community
on
a
wide
variety
of
issues
at
York
County
Community
College’s
(YCCC)
Eggs
&
Issues
Breakfast.
The
event,
which
was
attended
by
nearly
150
people,
was
held
at
the
college’s
main
campus
in
Wells.
Senator
Collins
commended
YCCC
on
its
commitment
to
career-focused
education,
which
prepares
students
to
face
the
challenges
of
the
global
economy.
She
noted
that
YCCC
has
been
a
leader
in
cultivating
partnerships
with
local
employers,
which
benefits
businesses
as
well
as
Mainers
seeking
to
find
employment
or
develop
their
skills.
“YCCC’s
wide
range
of
programs
and
their
success
in
helping
students
achieve
their
goals
are
the
result
of
the
partnership
forged
between
this
school
and
area
employers,”
said
Senator
Collins.
“An
outstanding
example
of
that
partnership
was
seen
this
May,
when
14
Pratt
&
Whitney
employees
completed
the
Apprenticeship
Program
and
graduated
from
YCCC.
As
Pratt
&
Whitney
expands
its
North
Berwick
production,
this
collaboration
is
critical
in
helping
to
develop
the
skilled
workforce
this
valued
Maine
employer
needs
to
advance
the
aviation
industry
and
to
enhance
our
national
security,
while
providing
great
jobs
right
here
in
our
State.”
Senator
Collins
has
worked
to
foster
these
types
of
constructive
partnerships
and
enhance
our
nation’s
ability
to
train
and
educate
workers.
Earlier
this
year,
she
introduced
the
American
Apprenticeship
Act
with
Senator
Amy
Klobuchar
(D-MN),
which
would
provide
funding
to
states
for
tuition
assistance
programs
for
pre-apprenticeship
and
Registered
Apprenticeship
programs.
Senator
Collins
Speaks
at
Grand
Opening
of
L.L.
Bean
Manufacturing
Center
in
Lewiston
L.L.
Bean
is
an
iconic
Maine
company
that
was
built
on
the
foundation
of
the
Maine
Hunting
Shoe
more
than
a
century
ago.
Leon
Leonwood
Bean
made
100
pairs
of
hunting
boots
in
his
first
production
run
in
1912,
and
last
year
the
skilled
workers
in
Lewiston
and
Brunswick
produced
more
than
600,000
pairs.
Senator
Collins
was
thrilled
to
take
part
in
the
grand
opening
of
L.L.
Bean’s
new
manufacturing
center
in
Lewiston,
which
will
help
the
company
produce
additional
boots
to
meet
growing
demand
and
create
good-paying
jobs
for
Mainers.
Senator
Collins
offered
her
best
wishes
to
employees
at
the
new
facility.
WTS
International
Names
Senator
Collins
“Woman
of
the
Year”
for
Transportation
Leadership
The
Women’s
Transportation
Seminar
(WTS)
honored
Senator
Collins
with
its
2017
Woman
of
the
Year
Award
for
her
significant
legislative
contributions
and
accomplishments
“that
have
moved
the
transportation
system
forward
in
the
United
States.”
The
award
was
presented
to
Senator
Collins
in
Augusta
at
the
WTS
Maine
Chapter
Meeting,
which
was
co-hosted
by
the
Maine
Department
of
Transportation.
“I
greatly
appreciate
being
recognized
for
my
work
to
improve
the
safety
and
efficiency
of
our
nation’s
transportation
network
and
my
advocacy
for
critical
infrastructure
projects,
from
roads
and
bridges
to
seaports,
shipyards,
railways
and
airports,”
said
Senator
Collins.
“As
Chairman
of
the
Senate
Transportation
Appropriations
Subcommittee,
I’ve
focused
on
improving
our
nation’s
infrastructure
and
ensuring
that
Maine’s
needs
are
met.
Throughout
Maine,
I’ve
seen
first-hand
the
positive
effects
of
investments
that
boost
our
economy
and
create
much-needed
jobs.
It’s
a
privilege
to
join
Maine’s
communities
in
this
important
work.”
Delivering
Remarks
at
UNE
Inauguration
of
President
James
Herbert
Senator
Collins
delivered
remarks
at
the
inauguration
of
James
D.
Herbert,
Ph.D.,
as
the
sixth
president
of
the
University
of
New
England
(UNE)
in
Biddeford.
Approximately
300
people
attended
the
event.
President
Herbert
previously
served
as
executive
vice
provost
and
dean
of
the
Graduate
College
at
Drexel
University
in
Philadelphia.
“As
home
to
Maine’s
only
medical
and
dental
schools,
UNE
plays
a
vital
role
in
our
State’s
future,
helping
to
keep
our
best
and
brightest
students
here
and
to
attract
high-achieving
students
from
elsewhere
to
come
to
Maine
to
study
and
to
stay,”
said
Senator
Collins.
“I
wish
President
Herbert
all
the
best
in
this
new
opportunity
he
has
accepted,
and
I
look
forward
to
the
University
of
New
England’s
continued
contributions
to
meeting
the
challenges
facing
our
State
and
our
nation.”
Senator
Collins
Recognized
for
Supporting
Grandparents
Raising
Grandchildren
Generations
United
honored
Senator
Susan
Collins
with
its
Grandfamilies
Champion
Award
for
her
commitment
to
supporting
grandparents
who
are
raising
their
grandchildren.
Generations
United
is
an
advocacy
organization
focused
on
supporting
intergenerational
families.
Earlier
this
year,
Senators
Collins
and
Bob
Casey
(D-PA),
the
Chairman
and
Ranking
Member
of
the
Senate
Aging
Committee,
introduced
the
Supporting
Grandparents
Raising
Grandchildren
Act
to
create
a
federal
task
force
charged
with
supporting
grandparents
raising
grandchildren.
Senators
Collins
and
Casey
introduced
their
legislation
following
a
March
Aging
Committee
hearing
they
held
on
the
growing
phenomenon
of
grandparents
raising
grandchildren
because
the
parents
are
struggling
with
addiction
and
can
no
longer
care
for
their
children.
During
the
hearing,
experts
and
grandparents
testified
on
the
need
for
grandparents
to
have
easy
access
to
information
about
resources
available
to
assist
them.
Congratulating
Maine
Seacoast
Mission’s
2017
Sunbeam
Honorees
Senator
Collins
attended
the
Maine
Seacoast
Mission's
dinner
in
Bar
Harbor
at
which
Alan
Baker
and
Earl
Brechlin
were
honored
for
their
work
in
publishing
and
editing
the
Mount
Desert
Islander,
an
award-winning
weekly
newspaper.
Robin
Alden
was
also
recognized
for
her
four-decades
long
career
in
promoting
Maine's
coastal
fisheries.
All
three
received
the
2017
Sunbeam
Award
presented
by
the
Mission's
president,
Scott
Planting.
The
Mission
provides
medical
care,
spiritual
support,
scholarships,
food
assistance,
and
crisis
services
to
island
communities
off
Hancock
and
Washington
Counties
and
to
families
in
small
towns
in
Downeast
Maine.
Meeting
with
Mainers
|
From
top
to
bottom,
left
to
right:
May
Young
of
Brooks
and
Josie
and
Abi
Cowles
of
Belfast;
Linda
Robinson
of
Bar
Harbor;
Adam
Bartow
and
Marie
Neidig
of
Portland;
Basil
Camic
Jr.,
Michelle
Barry
and
Donna Camic
of
Hampden;
and
Dawson
and
Ryan
Poulin
of
Waterville.
|
|