Susan M. Collins · TranslatePolitics.com

Senate

Legislative Session

2026-08-07

“I want to avoid a government shutdown. I helped write a short-term funding bill. It keeps current spending levels. It has some adjustments for specific programs. This bill gives more time to work on longer-term appropriations. I think Congress should pass this bill to keep the government funded and open.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, later tonight, my colleagues will be asked to pass the continuing resolution before us to prevent a government shutdown. As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to craft this stopgap funding measure. The continuing resolution that we produced is bipartisan and is supported by the administration. After three unnecessary lapses in funding during the fiscal year 2026 cycle, putting the possibility of yet another harmful shutdown off the table should be a priority for each and every one of us. This continuing resolution is straightforward. It continues current government funding levels until December 11, with limited anomalies aimed at avoiding disruptions in crucial government activities and programs. For example, our legislation includes necessary adjustments for programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children--better known as the WIC Program--to address program costs and participation levels. It allows the USDA loan programs to operate uninterrupted for our Nation's farmers. It gives the Department of Housing and Urban Development the resources it needs to maintain housing assistance for thousands of families, and we all know how absolutely critical that is. This continuing resolution also includes anomalies to prevent construction delays for several classes of U.S. Navy vessels, including the DDG-51s. It includes language to counter emergent cyber security threats, and it would help Federal law enforcement handle and plan for national security events. The resolution allows the administration immediate access to the full funding amounts for FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund and for the Forest Service and Department of the Interior's wildfire suppression efforts. We have only to look at the news to know just how critical those efforts and programs are. This bipartisan agreement also prevents the Office of Management and Budget from implementing a proposed rule regarding Federal financial assistance--from taking effect for the coming months. I advocated for significant changes to the proposed rule in a July 6 letter to the Agency, citing its potential to politicize the grant-making process and harm small, rural communities; our university, college, and nonprofit laboratories; our hospitals; our families; and biomedical research in general. There have been nearly 500,000 comments on this proposed rule, the vast majority of them against the changes that are proposed. I don't think that in the time I have been privileged to serve in the Senate, I have ever seen a proposed rule generate that many negative comments. This CR also gives Congress the time that it needs to continue our work on bipartisan appropriations bills. Last cycle, we were successful in getting 11 out of the 12 bills passed and signed into law. I hope we can do that this time as well, and the additional time the continuing resolution will give us should help bring that about. It is so important that Congress not abrogate its power of the purse--our constitutional responsibility. Senate passage of this continuing resolution would be a major step toward averting a damaging shutdown that could harm vital programs and throw the lives of Federal workers into disarray. We saw what happened in the shutdowns that occurred during the last cycle that were both unwarranted and unfair to so many of our Federal employees, particularly those who are forced to work without knowing when they would be paid. We cannot allow that to happen again. I very much appreciate the overwhelming bipartisan vote earlier today of 91 to 6, with 1 person voting ``present,'' to move forward with this legislation. I urge another ``aye'' vote tonight so that we can keep our government open and working for the American people.

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Senate

Deondra Dixon Include Project Act of 2026

2026-08-06

“I'm happy about the government spending in my state. The University of Maine gets money in these bills. The university tests ticks for diseases. People who work outside bring ticks to the lab. I want people to know the university does good work. The bills will give more money to the university. That's good for my state. I'm glad the government is spending this money in Maine.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, I am very pleased that we could pass these two very important bills this afternoon. I would be remiss if I did not mention that the University of Maine has an excellent lab that specializes in testing ticks for pathogens, and it has worked very closely with our game wardens, with foresters, with the others who are routinely in the woods of Maine and are exposed to tick bites. It actually has developed a little tick kit where you can send the tick into the lab, and it will be tested for pathogens. So I would be remiss if I did not salute the University of Maine for its excellent work on tick-borne illnesses. This legislation is going to make a big difference in helping to advance their work, as well as the research at the MaineHealth research institute. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Moreno). The Senator from Colorado.

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Senate

Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act

2026-08-06

“I want the Senate to pass a bill about ticks and Lyme disease. I helped make the first bill in 2019. The bill gives money to health departments to help with ticks and diseases they cause. A Senator got sick from a tick and died. I don't want that to happen again. Maine has a lot of Lyme disease. We need to help stop it. A newspaper said there are lots of ticks in Maine this year. That's bad. There is a test for a Lyme disease vaccine. Dogs can get a vaccine but people can't. I want that to change. The bill will help that research. I have people who support the bill. I want everyone to support it.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, I will soon ask that the Senate pass S. 2398, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act. The Tick Act was approved by the Senate HELP Committee more than a year ago with strong bipartisan support. I am proud to have authorized the original Tick Act in 2019 with my colleague Senator Tina Smith. Our bipartisan legislation strengthens Federal efforts to confront the alarming public health threat posed by Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. The Tick Act essentially has three parts: First, it reauthorizes funding for the CDC's four Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases; second, it extends grants to State and local public health departments to help them treat, test for, and conduct public education campaigns about ticks and other vector-borne diseases; and, third, it requires HHS to implement its national strategy to combat vector-borne diseases. Our bill is named after our former colleague Senator Kay Hagan. Kay, with whom I had the pleasure of serving, passed away in October of 2019 at the age of 66 from complications of a deadly tick-borne illness known as the Powassan virus. It is my hope that reauthorizing the Tick Act will help prevent future tragedies such as this one. Tick-borne diseases are a major public health concern, and the incidents have exploded over the past 20 years. Each year, the State of Maine has hit a new record high in the number of cases of Lyme disease. Last year, Maine reported 4,257 cases. Undoubtedly, that understates the number of cases because many are not reported. But that amount alone is more than double the number of cases reported in my home State just 6 years ago. Current projections show that 2026 will yet again be a record-setting year. This is a record that we do not want to set. The Lewiston Sun Journal reported just last week that every community in Maine's Franklin County faces a high risk of tick encounters for this season. Nevertheless, I am encouraged that we are making progress, and we have made progress in the 6 years since this law was first enacted. For example, a clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine is underway right now at the MaineHealth Institute for Research. It has always struck me, as I run, that every year my beloved Labrador retriever can get a vaccine for tick diseases and yet we cannot--we humans cannot-- and I am hoping this clinical trial will be successful, and it will make a real difference. Reauthorizing the Kay Hagan Tick Act would allow crucial projects, such as that research and others across the United States and public education campaigns--which are so important in teaching people what to do if they have a tick bite--that will all be allowed to continue. I want to thank Senator Smith for partnering with me on this reauthorization, and I would note that we have 21 bipartisan cosponsors. I urge all of my colleagues to support this lifesaving legislation. Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 154, S. 2398.

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Senate

Introductory Statement on S. 5250

2026-08-05

“I want to stop fraud in Medicare home health services. But I don't want to punish everyone. I want to make sure good providers get paid. Some fraud happens in Los Angeles. I want the government to stop fraud before it pays money. I want honest providers to keep helping people. My bill will do these things. It will reset payments and protect the good providers.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act. This legislation would strengthen the Medicare home health program by advancing two complementary goals: protecting the home health program from fraud and strengthening access to these important services for the Americans who need them. I have long been a strong supporter of home healthcare. In a home visit I made in one of my first years as a Senator, I saw firsthand the extraordinary difference that skilled nurses, therapists, and other home health professionals make in the lives of patients and their families. Every day, these dedicated caregivers enable millions of our Nation's most frail and vulnerable individuals to remain in the comfort, security, and privacy of their home, which is where they most want to be. Home healthcare not only improves patients' quality of life but also helps avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and nursing home admissions, producing substantial savings for Medicare, Medicaid, and families alike. For these reasons, we should be strengthening, not weakening, the Medicare home health program. Yet recent trends present a troubling paradox. Despite the rapid aging of our population, the number of traditional Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health services has declined in recent years, from approximately 3.3 million beneficiaries in 2019 to 2.7 million just 5 years later. At the same time, nearly everywhere in our country, the number of Medicare-certified home health agencies has also been dropping. According to the most recent report of MedPAC, which is the independent agency analyzing and advising Congress on Medicare, excluding California, more than 500 home health agencies closed between 2019 and 2024, a decline of 5 percent. The picture is dramatically different in California, however, where the number of Medicare home health agencies has doubled over the same time period. Nearly all of that growth has occurred in Los Angeles County. If that strikes you as strange, you are in good company. As MedPAC observed, many stakeholders, including the California State Auditor, have concluded that the unusual pattern of home health agency growth and use in Los Angeles County raises ``significant program integrity concerns.'' In plain language, that means fraud. MedPAC further noted that Los Angeles County has already been identified as a major hotspot for waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare hospice services and that the dramatic increase in home health agencies in the same area raises further flags. The California State auditor reported that one office building housed the corporate offices of more than 100 hospice agencies and dozens of home health agencies--a striking example of how organized fraud can exploit weaknesses in Medicare hospice enrollment and oversight. The concentration of Medicare home health spending in Los Angeles County is its own issue. This can be seen by the lopsided spending generated there. Even though only 2 percent of the Nation's Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries live in Los Angeles County, that 2 percent generates 9 percent of all Medicare fee-for-service home health expenditures in the entire Nation--roughly 4\1/2\ times the expected share. CMS is fully aware of the fraud problem in Los Angeles County and has responded aggressively. I commend the Agency for doing so. My legislation builds on those efforts by strengthening CMS's ability to stop fraudulent providers before they enter the Medicare Program, ending the ``pay and chase'' model. The bill accomplishes this goal by enhancing enrollment screening for owners and managers of agencies operating in objectively high-risk markets, requiring more rigorous oversight of new and high-risk providers through targeted surveys, strengthening oversight of accrediting organizations, and improving verification that Medicare beneficiaries actually received the services billed to the program. Further, the bill requires agencies in high-risk areas to provide documentation showing that they are legitimate businesses, such as proof of liability insurance. The bill also requires more frequent unannounced site visits for agencies that are new, have changed ownership, or are reactivating their billing privileges. Funding to support these efforts is also authorized. These reforms are designed to identify fraudulent providers early while allowing legitimate agencies to focus on delivering quality patient care. The consequences of fraud extend well beyond the communities in which it occurs. When billions of dollars are improperly siphoned from the Medicare home health program, the result can undermine the integrity of the payment system used to reimburse legitimate providers. Honest home health agencies--particularly those serving rural communities--already face rising labor costs, workforce shortages, and the challenges of providing care across large geographic areas. Inadequate reimbursement threatens their ability to continue serving the seniors who depend upon them. Protecting the integrity of the Medicare home health program therefore requires more than identifying and prosecuting fraud; it also requires ensuring that legitimate providers are reimbursed fairly for the medically necessary care they provide. This is the bill's second key objective. To accomplish this, my bill directs CMS to reset the home health base payment amount using 2020 rates, adjusted for inflation, before applying future payment updates. Resetting to 2020 is appropriate because it reflects the first year of the current payment methodology under the Patient-Driven Groupings Model and predates the fraud patterns that later emerged. The bill also addresses a calculation distortion in the current payment methodology and directs CMS to implement appropriate corrections going forward. This legislation strikes the right balance. It strengthens CMS's ability to prevent fraud before taxpayer dollars are lost, while ensuring that honest providers have the resources necessary to continue delivering high-quality care. It advances both program integrity and payment integrity, protects Medicare beneficiaries, safeguards taxpayer dollars, and helps preserve access to the home health services that allow millions of Americans to receive care safely and independently in their own homes. I want to note that these program integrity provisions align with those outlined in the Protecting Seniors and Stopping Fraudsters Act, introduced by Rep. Van Duyne in May. I look forward to working with her to move our bills forward as quickly as possible. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

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Senate

Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

2026-08-05

“I want to stop fraud in Medicare home health program. I saw how home health helps people. The number of people getting home health is going down. Except in Los Angeles, it's going up a lot. That looks like fraud. My bill will help stop fraud by checking agencies more. That will help honest agencies. My bill also makes sure honest agencies get paid enough. This will protect people and their money. We need to protect home health services.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act. This legislation would strengthen the Medicare home health program by advancing two complementary goals: protecting the home health program from fraud and strengthening access to these important services for the Americans who need them. I have long been a strong supporter of home healthcare. In a home visit I made in one of my first years as a Senator, I saw firsthand the extraordinary difference that skilled nurses, therapists, and other home health professionals make in the lives of patients and their families. Every day, these dedicated caregivers enable millions of our Nation's most frail and vulnerable individuals to remain in the comfort, security, and privacy of their home, which is where they most want to be. Home healthcare not only improves patients' quality of life but also helps avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and nursing home admissions, producing substantial savings for Medicare, Medicaid, and families alike. For these reasons, we should be strengthening, not weakening, the Medicare home health program. Yet recent trends present a troubling paradox. Despite the rapid aging of our population, the number of traditional Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health services has declined in recent years, from approximately 3.3 million beneficiaries in 2019 to 2.7 million just 5 years later. At the same time, nearly everywhere in our country, the number of Medicare-certified home health agencies has also been dropping. According to the most recent report of MedPAC, which is the independent agency analyzing and advising Congress on Medicare, excluding California, more than 500 home health agencies closed between 2019 and 2024, a decline of 5 percent. The picture is dramatically different in California, however, where the number of Medicare home health agencies has doubled over the same time period. Nearly all of that growth has occurred in Los Angeles County. If that strikes you as strange, you are in good company. As MedPAC observed, many stakeholders, including the California State Auditor, have concluded that the unusual pattern of home health agency growth and use in Los Angeles County raises ``significant program integrity concerns.'' In plain language, that means fraud. MedPAC further noted that Los Angeles County has already been identified as a major hotspot for waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare hospice services and that the dramatic increase in home health agencies in the same area raises further flags. The California State auditor reported that one office building housed the corporate offices of more than 100 hospice agencies and dozens of home health agencies--a striking example of how organized fraud can exploit weaknesses in Medicare hospice enrollment and oversight. The concentration of Medicare home health spending in Los Angeles County is its own issue. This can be seen by the lopsided spending generated there. Even though only 2 percent of the Nation's Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries live in Los Angeles County, that 2 percent generates 9 percent of all Medicare fee-for-service home health expenditures in the entire Nation--roughly 4\1/2\ times the expected share. CMS is fully aware of the fraud problem in Los Angeles County and has responded aggressively. I commend the Agency for doing so. My legislation builds on those efforts by strengthening CMS's ability to stop fraudulent providers before they enter the Medicare Program, ending the ``pay and chase'' model. The bill accomplishes this goal by enhancing enrollment screening for owners and managers of agencies operating in objectively high-risk markets, requiring more rigorous oversight of new and high-risk providers through targeted surveys, strengthening oversight of accrediting organizations, and improving verification that Medicare beneficiaries actually received the services billed to the program. Further, the bill requires agencies in high-risk areas to provide documentation showing that they are legitimate businesses, such as proof of liability insurance. The bill also requires more frequent unannounced site visits for agencies that are new, have changed ownership, or are reactivating their billing privileges. Funding to support these efforts is also authorized. These reforms are designed to identify fraudulent providers early while allowing legitimate agencies to focus on delivering quality patient care. The consequences of fraud extend well beyond the communities in which it occurs. When billions of dollars are improperly siphoned from the Medicare home health program, the result can undermine the integrity of the payment system used to reimburse legitimate providers. Honest home health agencies--particularly those serving rural communities--already face rising labor costs, workforce shortages, and the challenges of providing care across large geographic areas. Inadequate reimbursement threatens their ability to continue serving the seniors who depend upon them. Protecting the integrity of the Medicare home health program therefore requires more than identifying and prosecuting fraud; it also requires ensuring that legitimate providers are reimbursed fairly for the medically necessary care they provide. This is the bill's second key objective. To accomplish this, my bill directs CMS to reset the home health base payment amount using 2020 rates, adjusted for inflation, before applying future payment updates. Resetting to 2020 is appropriate because it reflects the first year of the current payment methodology under the Patient-Driven Groupings Model and predates the fraud patterns that later emerged. The bill also addresses a calculation distortion in the current payment methodology and directs CMS to implement appropriate corrections going forward. This legislation strikes the right balance. It strengthens CMS's ability to prevent fraud before taxpayer dollars are lost, while ensuring that honest providers have the resources necessary to continue delivering high-quality care. It advances both program integrity and payment integrity, protects Medicare beneficiaries, safeguards taxpayer dollars, and helps preserve access to the home health services that allow millions of Americans to receive care safely and independently in their own homes. I want to note that these program integrity provisions align with those outlined in the Protecting Seniors and Stopping Fraudsters Act, introduced by Rep. Van Duyne in May. I look forward to working with her to move our bills forward as quickly as possible. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation. S. 5264. A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to set requirements for certain operator workstations for fixed route buses, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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Senate

Expressing the Sense of the Senate That Ghislaine Maxwell Should Not Be Granted a Presidential Pardon or Any Form of Clemency for Her Crimes with Jeffrey Epstein Relating to the Sexual Exploitation...

2026-07-29

“I am sad that Lindsey Graham died. He was my friend. He did a lot as a Senator. He went to other countries. He met with important people. He made a difference. I went on four trips with him. He was funny. I liked serving with him. Now he is dead. That makes me sad. I think he is in heaven with other people I liked who were Senators.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, I rise this afternoon to pay tribute to an outstanding U.S. Senator and a dear friend, Senator Lindsey Graham. When my husband first woke me with the news that Lindsey had died the night before, I couldn't believe it. I said to him: That can't possibly be true. I thought it was some tasteless internet hoax or a false report. Not Lindsey. Not our Lindsey. But sadly, it was true, although I still find it so hard to accept. I can only imagine how difficult this unexpected loss must be for his beloved sister Darline and the other members of his family. Often when we think of a Senator, we ask: Did he or she make a difference? Did he or she have an impact on events here at home or abroad? Was the person a consequential Senator? With Lindsey, the answer clearly was the resounding yes. Lindsey was a leader not only in national policy but also in shaping international events. How telling it is that the Prime Minister of Israel and the President of Ukraine both made the long voyage to attend his memorial service yesterday at the National Cathedral. Whether he was leading a congressional trip to Israel in the wake of the October 7 massacre to demonstrate America's solidarity with Israel or his many trips to Ukraine to show the Senate's unwavering opposition to Russia's unprovoked invasion, Lindsey time and again demonstrated strong, effective leadership. He was truly a player on the world stage. And for me, Lindsey was also a close friend. Along with Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman, I traveled four times with Lindsey to Afghanistan and Iraq. Believe me, on those long military trips, you get to know your colleagues very well. Lindsey's unsurpassed sense of humor, his self-deprecating wit, and his storytelling ability made serving with him delightful, and I always learned so much when I traveled with him as well. I keep thinking that John McCain and Joe Lieberman--both treasured friends and colleagues of mine--were there waiting to greet what they called the third amigo when Lindsey Graham entered the heavenly gates, and I tried to take some comfort in knowing that the three of them are now reunited. Yesterday, we celebrated the life of this extraordinary Senator. Lindsey's life on Earth ended far too soon, but his legacy will endure forever. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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Senate

Subcommittee Memberships of the Committee on Appropriations for the 119th Congress

2026-07-22

“I want the membership changes for some appropriations subcommittees put in the official record.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the revised memberships on the 12 subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations for the 119th Congress be printed in the Record. The new assignments reflect the service on the committee of Senator Darline Graham, who was selected to fill the vacancy created by the passing of former Senator Lindsey Graham, as well as other revisions related to the change in committee membership. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: agriculture, rural development, food and drug administration, and =========================== NOTE =========================== On page S4224, July 22, 2026, second column, the following appears: Financial services and general government Senators Hagerty (chair), Boozman, Fischer, Husten, Graham, Reed (ranking member), Durbin, Coons, and Van Hollen. (5-4 The online Record has been corrected to read: Financial services and general government Senators Hagerty (chair), Boozman, Fischer, Husted, Graham, Reed (ranking member), Durbin, Coons, and Van Hollen. (5-4 ========================= END NOTE ========================= Departments of labor, health and human services, and education, and =========================== NOTE =========================== On page S4224, July 22, 2026, second column, the following appears: Departments of labor, health and human services, and education, and related agencies Senators Capito (chair), Moran, Kennedy, Hyde-Smith, Boozman, Britt, Rounds, Husten, Graham, Baldwin (ranking member), Murray, Durbin, Reed, Shaheen, Merkley, Schatz, and Murphy. (9-8) The online Record has been corrected to read: Departments of labor, health and human services, and education, and related agencies Senators Capito (chair), Moran, Kennedy, Hyde-Smith, Boozman, Britt, Rounds, Husted, Graham, Baldwin (ranking member), Murray, Durbin, Reed, Shaheen, Merkley, Schatz, and Murphy. (9-8) ========================= END NOTE ========================= Transportation, housing and urban development, and related agencies

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Senate

125th Anniversary of Crystal, Maine

2026-07-14

“I am happy for a town that exists. It is small and old. Farmers live there. People live there still. There are some small businesses. There is nature. This town is still there. That makes me happy.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, on March 21, 1901, a town in Aroostook County was incorporated and named after the region's pristine clear waters. Today, it is a great joy to join the people of Crystal, ME, in celebrating the 125th anniversary of a town that epitomizes rural life in the northern parts of our country and people who have shown the power of resiliency. Crystal's founding was just one piece of an already illustrious history. First established by William Young of Searsmont in 1839 as Township No. 4, Fifth Range West of the Easterly Line of the State, Crystal quickly classified itself as a plantation--and not just in name. Drawn by the fertile land, settlers determined that potato cultivation could be successful, and they started shipping their products southward on railroads that exist to this day. By the mid-1900s, the town of Crystal began facing the challenges that afflict many rural communities, leading to population decline that rendered Crystal one of the smallest and most rural communities in the entire State. Yet the people of Crystal persevered. Their farming and logging industries remain strong, creating an economic model for formerly industrialized towns. Throughout its history, Crystal has been recognized as having outstanding natural resources. Crystal Bog, also known as the 1000 Acre Bog, encompasses an extensive area of wetlands found south of Fish Stream. This area represents one of Maine's best examples of a Domed Bog Ecosystem and is classified as a National Natural Landmark. It also supports some of the State's most diverse fens, plants, and animals, including circumneutral fen, Clayton's copper butterfly, and swamp-fly honeysuckle. Crystal's 125th anniversary is more than just a celebration. It is recognition of a people who have thrived in the face of adversity. While every town has its unique challenges, I am sure that Crystal's best days lie ahead. I congratulate the town of Crystal, ME, on this wonderful achievement, and I look forward to witnessing its bright future.

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