Senator Collins Honored at 2017 Common Sense Awards

Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Sens. Collins and Hassan Receiving the Public Policy Leadership Award 

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins was honored for her work on issues that help children and families by Common Sense Media, the nation's leading non-partisan, non-profit children's media and? advocacy organization. Senator Collins received the organization’s Public Policy Leadership Award at the Common Sense Awards, an annual gala that celebrates visionaries who have embraced media and technology to inspire, educate, and improve the lives of kids. 

Among other initiatives, Senator Collins was recognized for introducing the Two-Generation Economic Empowerment Act, bipartisan legislation to lift families out of poverty; working for nearly two decades to reduce childhood lead poisoning; and chairing a hearing and raising awareness about grandparents raising grandchildren as a result of this heroin and opioid abuse crisis.

“I was honored to receive this recognition for my work on issues that help children and families, including my efforts to reduce poverty, prevent lead poisoning, and alleviate the opioid crisis,” said Senator Collins. “Common Sense Media provides invaluable resources that help keep our kids safe online, and it was wonderful to meet the leaders of this impressive organization.”

“Senator Susan Collins has demonstrated a deep commitment to fighting for children and families on education and health care issues and understands the powerful influence of media and technology in the lives of kids,” said Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense. “Common Sense commends Senator Collins for standing with children and families and is proud to honor her with our Public Policy Leadership Award.”

Common Sense Media develops and delivers free parent resources and educational programs to millions of families and schools across America. Maine was the first state to have 100 percent of its schools registered as members on the Common Sense Media website. Common Sense’s Digital Citizenship Curriculum is used by a growing network of 485,000 schools nationwide, and their ratings and reviews reach more than 68 million people across the web and partner platforms.

Additional honorees at the Common Sense Awards included Gina Rodriguez, a Golden Globe Award-winning actor; Amy Poehler, an Emmy Award-winning actor and the co-founder of Smart Girls; and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH).