I think that is just such a perfect example of why the face-to-face encounter is so important.

Opening Statement of Senator Susan M. Collins, Ranking Member

That also worries me. We have seen a little bit in the VA scandal of a variation of that that led in some cases to a falsification of numbers.

I applaud your holding this hearing on a topic of great concern to all of us, and that is, the impact on the beneficiaries of Social Security of the Social Security Administration's reduction of person-to-person services.

I really am sympathetic to your budget constraints and the number of employees that you have lost...

I am also, like the Chairman, concerned by the lack of transparency in the Social Security Administration's process for closing field offices or reducing their hours.

In your opinion, was SSA just determined to shut the office no matter what?

today Senator Murray and I are introducing legislation to enhance the safety practices and safety culture of short line railroads. The horrific derailment that occurred in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, last year, just 30 miles from the Maine…

This is completely unrealistic. The fact of the matter is millions of seniors and disabled Americans are not accustomed to doing business online.

the chances of these girls being reunited with their families grows ever dimmer.

What a huge difference in her standard of living to have $1,400 a month rather than $434 a month.

I do not see where you are really going to save on staff and be able to give the kind of service that Ms. DeLong is giving.

I use it in my office to meet with constituents who cannot travel to one of my six offices in Maine or cannot travel at all.

I rise today to honor a great American, President George Herbert Walker Bush, on the occasion of his 90th birthday. As I reflect upon his remarkable life, I am amazed that he has managed to pack so many accomplishments into just 90 short…

Senator Collins really should get some credit for this--we have been able to start to consolidate about one-fifth of all public housing into the Section 8 program.

I frequently was frustrated by the OMB Directors ignoring the 'M' in OMB.

During his tenure as HUD Secretary, Secretary Donovan has been widely recognized as an effective and knowledgeable leader.

We oppose Section 133 of the Senate THUD bill on both safety and jurisdictional grounds.

I am delighted to join my friend, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Aging, Senator Nelson, in introducing legislation to help combat fraud in the Medicare Program. We are introducing the Stop Schemes and Crimes Against Medicare and…

I rise today to recognize the impressive performance of students from Marshwood High School in South Berwick, ME, at the 27th annual ``We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution'' National Finals. These students, who are members of…

Dozens of Members of Congress, including Senator Collins, who authored the original legislative requirement, have written to the Federal Reserve Board saying that this application of bank regulation to insurance is inappropriate.

I rise in support of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, S. 2262. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this legislation, which would build on previous energy efficiency legislation and proposes cost-effective mechanisms to…

Now look where we are today. We are backing off of our commitment to research, science, and technology.

But it can be very difficult for a small business to comply with the cost of submitting a bid, with changing specifications, with rescoping of projects.

The University of Maine has developed a 'bridge in a backpack' for constructing short- to medium-length bridges in the field.