Susan Collins

We must improve coordination between Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as the private sector.

We must have a clear chain of accountability to achieve port security.

I want to thank you for convening this important hearing.

With more than 95 percent of our imports flowing through our ports and with millions of passengers and maritime containers passing through them with only limited inspections, we must have a far better security system in place than we do…

Our seaports are as important in the war against terrorism as the safety of the food we eat and the security of the planes we fly in.

I echo the words of the Senator from Nevada. We have all been impressed with the tremendous grace and strength that our Senate majority leader has shown under unbelievable pressure. Our thoughts are with him and with his staff as they…

I rise to comment the managers of the Treasury, Postal appropriation bill, Chairman Dorgan and Ranking Member Campbell, for including in their bill funds to increase the number of Customs officers stationed on our northern border. I…

We would respectfully ask that you make every effort to retain the $6 million earmark in the conference on your bill with the House of Representatives, so that these funds can be used next year to cover engineering, construction, and…

I have very few, and I cannot recall any, really, who have been to my office and said, ``Mac, I want you to pass legislation to let me sue my insurance plan and my employer.'' That is not what is on their mind. What is on their mind is the…

In reporting its bill, the subcommittee originally provided $500,000 for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Atlantic salmon grant program. It is my understanding that, in increasing funding for the program to $1.1 million, the…

My hope is that we can come together on this important issue. It is important, and I think it is unfortunate that we didn't get through a conference on the Patients' Bill of Rights last year. Then we would have had these protections…

Finally, Mr. President, I thank my principal cosponsor of this legislation, Senator Feingold of Wisconsin, for his contributions to this bill. We found that Maine and Wisconsin have many similar problems in ensuring that there is an…

I must say I was shocked with what I saw. We saw soldiers living three in a very cramped space, 55 square feet per soldier, housing that is an embarrassment to the United States of America. Mr. President, there is an old statement that…

I was, indeed, so impressed with the pride and professionalism of the soldiers that I met. They were so committed to their jobs and to serving our country. We simply need to do better by them.

As you know, natural disasters exact a tremendous toll on our nation. In just two decades (1975-1994), 24,000 individuals nationwide lost their lives to natural disasters. An additional 100,000 were injured, and the resulting property…

The Senator from Kansas has been a strong supporter along with my colleagues, Senators Bond and Ashcroft from Missouri, as well as many colleagues, in cosponsoring legislation introduced to eliminate the automatic 15-percent reduction in…

A further 15-percent cut would be devastating. It would sound the death knell for those low-cost, nonprofit agencies in our States, which are currently struggling to hang on. It would further reduce our seniors' access to critical home…

The fact is that it now appears the savings goals set for home health have not only been met but far exceeded. According to CBO, spending for home health care fell by 35 percent in 1999, and CBO cites the larger-than-anticipated drop in…

The Senator has spent a lot of time understanding OASIS. One of the complaints I have heard is that OASIS even requires, in some cases, the collection of data for non-Medicare patients; is that correct?

OASIS collects information not only about the patient's medical condition or history, but about living arrangements, medications, sensory status--I am not even sure what that means--and emotional status as well. That raises a host of…

I inform the Senator from Kansas that the testimony at my hearing indicated that it generally takes a nurse as long as 2 hours to complete these forms with one patient. The patients do not welcome this intrusive questionnaire in any way.

The year 2004 will mark the 400th anniversary of a small French settlement on Saint Croix Island, located in the Saint Croix River, which forms the boundary between the State of Maine and Canada. The 1604 settlement was the initial site of…

I hope and I pray that all of my colleagues would join us, join with the people of Georgia, the people of this Nation in praying for a speedy recovery and a full recovery of Paul Coverdell.

I also thank you for your support, Mr. Chairman, for supporting these appropriations that will enable Pingree land to continue to supply area mills and support the local economy while allowing the public continued recreational access.

I would like to add that, in the past, all of NFWF's federal grants have been appropriated through a designation to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Land and Water Conservation Fund, and NFWF has received funds from the Forest Service…