Senator Collins’ Statement on Her Leadership to End the Government Shutdown

Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ press conference

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued this statement on her leadership of the Common Sense Coalition with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), which proposed the compromise that allowed the Senate to pass a short-term funding bill to reopen the federal government.

“Today, we saw the power of the center in the U.S. Senate.  Joe and I worked very hard in leading the effort of the Common Sense Coalition—a group of 25 Republicans, Democrats, and Independent Angus King—which proposed the compromise to end the government shutdown. 

“I founded the Common Sense Coalition nearly five years ago to end the 2013 government shutdown.  Just as we did in 2013, we showed that a determined group of Senators working across the aisle can produce positive action. 

“Senators representing both parties first began meeting for hours in my office on Friday, and we continued to discuss these issues in meetings on Saturday, Sunday, and today, supplemented by numerous phone calls.  What we shared in common was the determination to reopen government and convince our leaders that there is a path forward that will accommodate those of us who are concerned about the fate of the “Dreamers” who live in this country, many of whom have known no other country as their home.  They will be at risk of deportation starting in March if legislation is not passed.  Our commitment to accomplishing these goals, as well as the size and bipartisan nature of our group, helped to break the impasse. 

“In addition to reopening government, I am particularly happy that the continuing resolution reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides health care coverage to low-income children nationwide.  I co-sponsored the legislation that created this program as a freshman Senator in 1997.  The provision included in the stop-gap funding bill will extend CHIP for an additional six years, ensuring that the nine million children—including more than 22,000 in Maine—who rely on this program will continue to have access to health care.

“There are many other issues that we need to deal with, including budget caps and the urgent need for additional funding for national defense and the opioid crisis.  The successful bipartisan effort that led to the reopening of the government today, however, is a significant and promising step forward.”