Susan Collins

The opioid epidemic is having a measurable negative impact on the life expectancy of Americans.

It claims the lives of almost 120 Americans a day and about one a day in my State of Maine.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you today about the impact this terrible crisis is having on older Americans.

Thank you. And let me just remind you that it rains far less often in Maine than it does in Washington State.

One of the main metrics for gauging our progress in developing a health care workforce to care for older adults is a certification in geriatrics.

Obviously, we want to build a workforce to provide geriatric care and ensure that older adults, and their families in rural America, are provided with the resources that they need to care for aging loved ones.

In Maine, we are reaching that aging milestone faster than most states. Within the next 2 years, our seniors will outnumber our children, 15 years ahead of the national projections.

Yesterday, I introduced a bill with Senator Casey, the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act, which would reauthorize the GWEP programs and reinstate the Geriatric Academic Career Awards program.

These programs work.

The partnership we have with other countries--Israel, the U.K., South Korea, and others--is really important as we continue to support production of the F-35.

I think that communication with the private sector in both directions is absolutely critical, so that you can share threat information, malicious software signatures.

I introduced a bill that we refer to as the No Fly, No Buy legislation. What it says is that, if you are listed on the Government's terrorist watch list--and I am not talking about the very broad one; I am talking about the no-fly…

Again, my thanks to each and every one of you for your participation and for helping us gain a better understanding of this important issue.

What I would like to get from you today is a commitment that you will increase your outreach to passenger coalitions before making fundamental changes in your operations and routes.

I certainly understand the need for a business mentality to be brought to Amtrak operations and Congress has directed Amtrak to work to make the entire national network financially more sustainable.

Leadership, sustained leadership to be committed to this statute of 2008 and 2015 is paramount

I was alarmed to hear you say today, and I think this is accurate, that fewer than 25 percent of passenger miles are covered by PTC.

Well, first of all, Mr. Leahy, congratulations to you for making such progress and such an effort in response to the crash that would have been prevented by PTC.

Well, that is something we will certainly need to keep an eye on.

Is it clear who will be responsible for those ongoing costs? Is it the host railroad or is it the tenant?

I held a hearing in the Aging Committee last week on the increase in the price of insulin during the past 10 years when it has tripled.

I think it would be helpful if the President made clear that those kinds of comments are not acceptable rather than criticizing the leaker.

The best way for this to be put to rest and it should have happened immediately would have been for the White House to issue a public apology to the entire McCain family.

The conservation efforts of Maine lobstermen--including self-imposed regulations such as tossing back egg-bearing females--are driven by the desire to ensure the stock and the ocean environment remains healthy and sustainable for…

But the problem, and this is what I will submit for the record, is Canada does not have comparable safeguards.