Susan collins

With education costs continuing to rise at both public and private institutions, I believe that increases in grant aid are needed.

The budget reconciliation bill now before the U.S. Senate includes draconian cuts to vital health, education and child support enforcement programs.

Soaring prescription drug costs have placed a tremendous strain on family budgets. They have also imposed a heavy burden on employers - both public and private - who are struggling to provide affordable health insurance coverage to their workers.

This, Mr. President, is literally a matter of life and death. At Christmastime, when I was home in my hometown of Caribou, Maine, two elderly women were hospitalized with hypothermia. This is not theoretical. It is not theoretical when there is ice in the toilet and our elderly and low-income are at risk of illness.

I don't believe in dieting.