Susan Collins

Sen. Susan Collins deserves recognition for the empathy she showed when meeting parents seeking stronger federal support for Type 1 diabetes research. She followed that meeting with action, helping establish the Senate Diabetes Caucus and backing increased funding for medical research that offers hope to children facing a lifelong illness through no fault of their own.

She has also emphasized that scientific breakthroughs depend on a healthy U.S. business climate capable of attracting the capital needed to turn discoveries into widely available treatments — one reason she supported lowering the federal corporate tax rate in 2017 to levels comparable to Scandinavian countries, which have lower all‑in rates because they lack state corporate taxes.

Although the recent “big, beautiful bill” expanded tax depreciation benefits for research, Sen. Collins voted “no,” citing the overall need to protect Medicaid access for rural Mainers. Her record reflects compassion, pragmatism and independence. I thank Sen. Collins.