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| Friday, July 17, 2009 Headlines - Collins announces more than $33 million contract for BIW - Senator Collins meets with President about health care - Weekly Column: Clearing the Air - More than $1 million for Energy Star funding in Maine - Community Development Block Grants for Maine Collins announces more than $33 million contract for BIW  U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works (BIW) with $33.1 million in funding to provide ongoing lead yard services for the DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class Aegis Destroyer Program.DDG-51 Class lead yard services include: liaison for follow ship construction, general class services, class logistic services, class design agent services, and class change design services for follow-on ships and DDG modernization support. This award also includes work associated with the restart of the DDG-51 line. "BIW workers are among the most skilled workers in the world. The ships they build are on the cutting edge of technology and serve to strengthen our country's national security and its ability to protect our interests overseas," said Senator Collins. "This funding is welcome news to the skilled workforce at BIW, which has played a critical role in the construction of the DDG-51 program." Senator Collins meets with President about health care reform At the request of the President, Senator Susan Collins this week attended an hour-long meeting in the Oval Office to discuss her thoughts on health care reform. Following the meeting, she released this statement:  "We had a very good discussion and I am very impressed with the President's sincere openness to my thoughts on how to expand access to affordable health care coverage and to reform our health care system to improve outcomes and lower costs."Clearly, soaring health insurance premiums have made insurance increasingly unaffordable for many families and small businesses, and there are far too many Americans without health insurance or with woefully inadequate coverage. "During our meeting, we discussed the contents, the goals, and the timetable for health care reform legislation. I spoke about the importance of delivery system reforms. The State of Maine is a high-quality, low-cost state, and it is critical that our state's health care providers are not harmed by reforms. We must focus on holding on to what is good about our system and improving what is not working. "This is a major challenge. Health care affects every single person in our country and represents one sixth of our nation's economy. That is why I urged the President not to set an artificial deadline governing such an important bill. We must proceed in a deliberative, bipartisan and careful fashion. Rushed legislation won't be nearly as well thought out as it should be, it will cost more than it should, and the process will be divisive." Clearing the Air: Reducing Black Carbon Worldwide Weekly column by Senator Collins We call it "soot," but it is officially known as "black carbon." Soot is the fine, black residue that can be found inside our fireplaces and on the outside our car's tailpipe. It is emitted from dirty diesel engines and is even produced during forest fires. Though, on the surface, it might appear to be little more than a dirty nuisance, the truth is black carbon is a potent contributor to global climate change and a health risk. And a major source of black carbon are the primitive cook stoves used in developing countries. While carbon dioxide is known to be the most common cause of rising global temperatures, scientists say black carbon is the second.. It is estimated to have, on an equivalent mass basis, more than 500 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. That's because when black carbon falls on ice or snow, it reduces the reflectivity, therefore increasing the rate of melting. While global climate change is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing our country, black carbon is also a dangerous pollutant that is causing severe health problems, even death, worldwide. In developing countries like Africa, China, and India, about two billion people cook with solid fuels over an open fire or with primitive mud stoves. Cooking and heating with poorly designed stoves emits noxious gases and particulates. This soot gathers not only on the walls and the roof of their small huts, but also in their lungs. Tragically, experts believe that these pollutants cause the premature deaths of more than one million people, particularly women and children, each year. More than $1 million for Energy Star funding in Maine U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins today announced that the Department of Energy has awarded Maine $1,263,098 in Energy Star grant funding. The funding will be used for a state-run rebate program for consumer purchases of new ENERGY STAR qualified home appliances.  Maine will be required to submit a plan that specifies which ENERGY STAR appliance categories will be included in its energy rebate program, the rebate level for each product type, how the rebates will be processed, and a plan for recycling old appliances. The funding is being distributed to Maine through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Senators Snowe and Collins worked with a bipartisan group of senators to craft the legislation that became law in February. "These rebates will help families make the transition to more efficient appliances, making purchases that will directly stimulate the economy and create jobs," Senators Snowe and Collins said. "We are pleased to announce this funding that will help improve Maine's energy efficiency." For more info on Energy Star: http://www.energystar.gov/ Community Development Block Grants for Maine U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe and U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that five Maine housing agencies have been awarded a combined $1,425,280 in Community Development Block Grants administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funding is being distributed to Maine through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Senators Snowe and Collins worked with a bipartisan group of senators to craft the legislation that became law in February. The funding will be allocated as follows: - City of Auburn $169,648 - City of Bangor $278,574 - City of Biddeford $127,479 - City of Lewiston $276,909 - City of Portland $572,670 "Community Development Block Grants help form the backbone of countless community development efforts," Senators Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. "They are especially vital to communities in Maine because they support the expansion of programs and infrastructure that benefit low-income and struggling residents. We are pleased that Maine will be receiving these funds." The CDBG program provides annual grants to States and local units of government to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds private housing developments to assist in housing opportunities for low income residents. HUD provides rental assistance to approximately 1.5 million low-income households. It also funds community revitalization projects to meet local needs and expand opportunities for Americans. | SENATOR COLLINS ON CBS EVENING NEWS  Senator Collins discusses Federal building security issues on CBS Evening News SENATOR COLLINS VISITS WITH CASTINE FAMILY  Senator Collins visited with the Chase/Sahl family of Castine recently during their trip to Washington. Stay up to date with Senator Collins:    |
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