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| Friday, June 12, 2009 Headlines - Handouts for Hummers: WSJ Op-Ed - Navy Secretary to visit BIW, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard - Senator Collins supports tobacco regulation bill - Domtar Mill in Baileyville to reopen - Protecting Maine's Lakes and Streams Handouts for Hummers We're astonished how quickly lobbyists fouled up a good idea. Wall Street Journal- By Dianne Feinstein and Susan Collins It's amazing how quickly a good idea can go bad in Washington. In January, we joined with Sen. Charles Schumer to introduce a bill that would allow Americans to trade in gas-guzzling cars in  exchange for vouchers worth up to $4,500 toward the purchase of vehicles with greatly improved fuel economy. This legislation was modeled after programs in California and Texas that improved fuel efficiency, reduced pollution, and stimulated auto sales. Our "Cash for Clunkers" proposal was a win-win for the environment and the economy. Then Detroit auto industry lobbyists got involved. Soon a rival bill emerged in the House, tailored perfectly to the auto industry's specifications. The House bill was written so quickly that one of its main components -- a provision that would have excluded any vehicle manufactured overseas -- had to be removed because it violated trade laws. But the worst item on the auto industry's wish list is still at the heart of the bill -- a provision that undermines fuel-efficiency standards. Navy Secretary Mabus to visit BIW, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Senator Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services "I am delighted that Secretary Mabus has accepted my invitation to visit both Bath Iron Works and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard," said Senator Collins. "This will be Secretary Mabus' first visit and I am pleased that he is taking this opportunity to learn more about Maine's shipbuilding and repair facilities." Senator Collins met with Secretary Mabus in her Washington, D.C. office on April 27, 2009, prior to his confirmation hearing, and invited him to visit BIW and PNSY. Details of the Secretary's visit are still be finalized and will be announced later. Senator Collins supports bill to better regulate tobacco products Collins is original cosponsor of legislation that passed the Senate Senator Collins voted to support legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority it needs to regulate the production and marketing of tobacco products. Senator Collins is an original cosponsor of the "Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act", which would prevent tobacco companies from using misleading or inaccurate health claims, require them to inform consumers of tobacco product ingredients, and would restrict tobacco advertising and promotions that target children. "Tobacco is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States today," said Senator Collins. "Despite all the harm they cause, however, tobacco products are exempt from even the most basic health and safety regulations. This long-overdue legislation gives clear and comprehensive authority to the FDA to regulate tobacco products and better protect adults and children from the dangers of tobacco." Domtar Mill in Baileyville to reopen Senator Collins released this statement following the announcement that Domtar Corporation will be reopening its Woodland pulp mill in Baileyville later this month and bringing approximately 300 employees back to work. "This is encouraging news for 300 workers in Northern and Eastern Maine who have been out of work since the mill shut down" said Senator Collins. "I am pleased to have been able to assist the company and am delighted for these hardworking and dedicated workers, and their families. It is crucial that we continue to work to help strengthen the pulp operation in Baileyville and secure these jobs for the future." Protecting Maine's Lakes and Streams Weekly column from Senator Susan Collins Maine's lakes are under attack, and we risk losing the battle. Every year, native species of fish and plant life are challenged by foreign intruders and, since the newcomers to Maine's lakes  and waterways do not have natural enemies in our waters, they tend to overcome native species and drive some to extinction. For example, white perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and northern pike, which are not native to Maine, have been found in our lakes. A particularly troublesome invasive plant is Eurasian milfoil, which forms stems reaching up to 20 feet high that cause fouling problems for swimmers and boaters. It degrades water quality by displacing native plants, fish and other aquatic species. There are now at least 30 documented cases of this aquatic invasive species infesting Maine's lakes and ponds.
| HARNESSING MAINE'S WIND ENERGY  Senator Collins, Governor Baldacci, and the Maine Congressional Delegation met with Energy Secretary Chu to discuss a national wind research center in Maine SENATOR COLLINS QUESTIONS GEITHNER ON TARP  Senator Collins questions Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner about the effectiveness of TARP funding Stay up to date with Senator Collins:    |
Committee, has been notified that Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has accepted her invitation to visit Bath Iron Works and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. Secretary Mabus is scheduled to tour the facilities on Monday, June 15.
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