The Public Record
Susan Margaret Collins is a United States Senator from Maine, serving since January 7, 1997. A member of the Republican Party, Collins is known for her moderate stance on various issues, often working across party lines. Throughout her tenure, she has focused on a range of topics including healthcare, national security, and economic policy. Collins has been recognized for her independent approach to governance, often emphasizing the importance of bipartisanship in her legislative efforts.
Mr. President I rise with my good friend Senator Carper to offer the Homeland Security Grant Enhancement Act in order to streamline and strengthen the way we help our States, communities, and first responders protect our homeland. Three…
in New England, we have an old expression: The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes us a little longer. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 before us today at times seemed to be an impossible goal. So…
the Senator from Michigan worked so hard to craft a series of provisions that were included in this bill. Unfortunately, the conference agreement does not include many of the provisions the Senator cared most about concerning access to…
the 9/11 Commission found that the biggest impediment to ``connecting the dots'' was resistance to information sharing. As the Commission stated in its report: ``Agencies uphold a `need to know' culture of information protection rather…
The White House emphasized the need for ``consultation with the states . . . to address important concerns about flexibility, privacy, and unfunded mandates.'' This conference report maintains those important aspects of the approach in the…
This bill provides the DNI with significant new authorities regarding such areas as determining the National Intelligence Program budget and executing its appropriation, transferring funds and personnel, and reprogramming funds. Under this…
I previously discussed the purpose of the Office of the DNI, which is to house entities such as the centers which integrate and unify the efforts of the various intelligence agencies to accomplish intelligence missions. The legislation…
In addition to the step-by-step development process my colleague has described, I would also note that the other key means by which the legislation seeks to ensure the successful implementation of the ISE is through the appointment of a…
Specifically, the board established in the bill is to be made up of five members, who are to be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the President. Two of the five members--the chairman and vice-chairman--are also required to be…
Transparency helps to give confidence to the American people that the protection of their civil liberties and privacy is being addressed as we take actions to further protect our Nation from terrorism. To that end, the board is to report…
Indeed, as we improve government to better secure our Nation against future attacks, we must at the same time protect those American values that define our free society. These freedoms and values are what define us as Americans and what…
This was an extraordinarily open conference, where Democrats and Republicans negotiated side by side in every single meeting. It was a bipartisan effort. I wish to also respond to the concept that somehow this issue was rushed. The fact is…
we are on the verge of voting on historic legislation, landmark legislation that will reform our intelligence structure to allow us to better fight the war against terrorism and to counter future security threats. We will be taking a…
Don Nickles first came to the Senate in 1980 as a young man of 31 with a vision. He now leaves us, 24 years later, with a record we all can envy and a reputation we all should emulate. There are a lot of words that can be used to describe…
I want to commend you for holding this hearing to examine the current flu vaccine shortage
I joined Senator Jack Reed in sending a letter to Secretary Tommy Thompson urging that he do all that he can administratively to optimize the utilization of the existing vaccine
I want to commend you for holding this hearing to examine the current flu vaccine shortage.
Clearly, Congress must take action to increase and strengthen the nation's supply of flu vaccine.
I joined Senator Jack Reed in sending a letter to Secretary Tommy Thompson urging that he do all that he can administratively to optimize the utilization of the existing vaccine.
Clearly, Congress must take action to increase and strengthen the nation's supply of flu vaccine.
the issue before us is really very straightforward. Do we want to reorganize the Senate to consolidate jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security within one committee or don't we? What we should not do is to pretend we are…
The issue before us is really straightforward and simple. Do we want to follow the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and Secretary Ridge and the rest of the administration and have a single authorizing committee in the House and the…
The Coast Guard would remain in the Commerce Committee. The point is this: The administration has called for this consolidation. Let us either do it or not do it, but let us not pretend we are doing it by changing the name of a committee…
The primary role of the Coast Guard today is port security. It has in some ways taken away from its many other important functions in fisheries enforcement and regulation, for example.
Well, that is a good question. I have had hearings. Other hearings have been held. Twenty-five Senate committees and subcommittees have a claim over DHS. It is why Secretary Ridge called up in desperation and said: Please give us some…
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