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| Friday, September 25 , 2009 Headlines - Video: Senator Collins holds hearing on WMD threat - Roll Call: "Czarism" - Senator Collins accepts award for support of drug courts - Senator Collins meets with shuttle astronauts - More than $4 million for Bangor and Knox County airports - Weekly column: Angels in Adoption Senator Collins holds hearing on WMD threat  Watch video >> Biological laboratories using dangerous pathogens do not have adequate protections in place to prevent the theft of those pathogens for use by terrorists in a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) attack, witnesses said Tuesday at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing focused on corrective legislation introduced by Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me. earlier this month. Read more >> Roll Call: "Czarism" from Roll Call, September 23, 2009: ...the president should answer a thoughtful letter written to him Sept. 14 by Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) and five other GOP Senators, which stipulated that not every post referred to in the media as a "czar" — numbering as many as 34 — is problematic. But, the letter said, at least 18 new positions created by the administration "may be undermining the constitutional oversight responsibilities of Congress or express statutory assignments of responsibility to other executive branch officials." Among the posts on the Senators' list, which was not included in the letter, are White House "czars" for energy and environmental policy, health care reform, urban affairs and cybersecurity, plus others in various departments who oversee Afghanistan policy, autos, manufacturing and financial industry pay. None are subject to Senate confirmation. Senator Collins accepts award for support of drug courts Senator Susan Collins was honored with the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) 2009 Congressional Leadership Award for her outstanding support of Drug Courts in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Appropriations process. The Senators critical support helped Drug Courts receive a record 250% increase over the previous years funding, an amount totaling $63.882 million. "Drug Courts have proven to be one of our nation's most successful strategies for dealing with addicted offenders," said Maine's Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley. "Drug Courts are truly making a difference for individuals who, without Drug Court, would not have the opportunity to restore their lives, reunite with their families and become productive citizens. Senator Collins' Congressional leadership has made a real difference in the lives of countless people around the country and in our home state of Maine." Senator Collins meets with shuttle astronauts  Senator Collins recently met with members of the STS-127 space shuttle crew,including Chris Cassidy (Mission Specialist, from York, Maine), Tom Marshburn (Mission Specialist), and Mission Commander Mark Polansky. Senators Snowe, Collins announce more than $4 million for Bangor International Airport, Knox County Regional Airport U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration has awarded a combined $4.21 million in grant funding to the Bangor International Airport and the Knox County Regional Airport in Owl's Head. Specifically, $2.43 million in funding will go to the Bangor International Airport. The funding will be used for continued work (Phase II) of the airport's cargo apron parking rehabilitation project. The Knox County Regional Airport will also receive $1.78 million to assist in the construction of a new terminal building. "Maine's transportation infrastructure must be maintained and improved in order to keep residents connected to people and economies all over the world," Senators Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. "This federal funding will help the Bangor International Airport and Knox County Regional Airport fulfill the transportation needs of Maine by enhancing and updating the airports' facilities." The Department of Transportation (DOT) aims to improve safety, increase mobility in support of the nation's economy, protect human and natural environment, achieve organizational excellence, and support the national security strategy. Angels in Adoption Weekly column by Senator Susan Collins Every child needs and deserves a safe and loving home, a family to provide support, stability, and hugs. But for hundreds of thousands of children in America, tragic circumstances have robbed them of this basic right. Fortunately, there are "angels" among us, caring and generous people who open their homes and their hearts to these children through adoption. They are found throughout America, including here in Maine. A remarkable couple from Cape Elizabeth will be honored in Washington, D.C., along with angels from every other state, for their commitment to children in need. Each year, members of Congress have the privilege of recognizing members of the community who have truly made a difference in children's lives through adoption with "Angels in Adoption" awards. This year, as a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I have nominated Jaimie and Belinda Erskine of Cape Elizabeth for their truly inspiring efforts – the adoption of three children, all with heartbreaking starts in life and challenging special needs. Read more >> | SENATOR COLLINS MEETS WITH LORING JOB CORPS STUDENT  Diana Secula was in Washington, D.C. to job-shadow with one of Senator Collins' staffers SENATOR COLLINS ATTENDS BLUE MASS IN BANGOR  Senator Collins attended the Blue Mass to honor law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel. Pictured with Bangor Police Chief Ron Gastia (left) and Penobscot County Sherriff Glenn Ross Stay up to date with Senator Collins:    |
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Afghanistan "My fear is that we can get sucked into a quagmire like we did in Vietnam and Iraq," the senator said in response to calls for more troops. "We have not been clear about what our goal is in Afghanistan and what our exit strategy is. The alternatives are not simply to pull out tomorrow or put in tens of thousands of more troops." To watch Bernie on Hardball with Chris Matthews, click 
Dairy Crisis The Justice Department antitrust chief testified at a hearing in Vermont about reports that Dean Foods dominates 70 percent of the New England milk market. Meanwhile, National Farmers Union members came to Capitol Hill to back Bernie's Senate-passed bill to provide an extra $350 million for struggling dairy farmers. To read a Wall Street Journal report on the hearing, click 
Campaign Finance Conservative Supreme Court justices may overturn curbs on corporations that pour millions of dollars into attempts to influence elections. If that happens, Bernie told CNN's Rick Sanchez, "You're just giving over our democracy to the wealthiest and most powerful institutions in the world. It's going to open the flood gates for corporate money." To watch the interview, click 
Surveillance Bernie cosponsored Russ Feingold's bill to rescind the immunity given to telecommunications firms that took part in a Bush-era spying program. "We have got to do everything we can to protect the American people from terrorist attacks, but we can do that and uphold the rule of law," Bernie said. To read more, click 
Social Security Retirees would get a $250 one-time payment next year under a Sanders bill to make up for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment. "We are in the midst of a major recession and we cannot forget about the serious economic stress that older Americans are living under," he said. The senator's solution was outlined in a floor speech. To watch it, click 
Health Care "The American people should have a choice about whether they want to stay with their private insurance or go to a public plan, a Medicare-type plan," Bernie said on Countdown with Keith Olbermann. "If you don't have a public option in competition with the private insurance companies, what is going to stop them from raising their rates higher and higher and higher?"
Pentagon Waste Overhauling the way civilian contractors hurt in war zones are cared for could save $250 million a year, a study found. "The current system for providing health insurance and workers compensation for our military contact workers in Iraq and Afghanistan is broken and wasting millions of dollars in payments to companies like AIG," Bernie said. To read more about the investigation, click 
