SENATOR COLLINS' STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
Following President Bush’s State of the Union address this evening, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) released the following statement:
“President Bush outlined an agenda that addresses many of the important issues facing our country. Everywhere I go in Maine, I consistently hear from Maine people who are concerned with the high costs of health insurance and our dependence on foreign oil. I look forward to working closely, in a bipartisan spirit, with my colleagues in the Senate to expand access to affordable health insurance and to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
“I strongly share the President’s goal of reducing our dependence on foreign sources of energy, and I am pleased that the President is calling for an increase in automobile fuel economy standards. His proposal does not, however, go nearly far enough. Yesterday, I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues in introducing a measure to raise the average fuel economy standards for all vehicles, including SUVs and sedans, from 25 miles per gallon (mpg) to 35 mpg by model year 2019. Our proposal is four times more aggressive than the President's and would result in an 18 percent reduction of vehicular greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, and save 2.1 million barrels of oil per day. Implementing strong CAFÉ standards will enable us to limit our dependence on foreign oil and will help to address global warming, to which automobile emissions are a major contributor.
“One of my top priorities in the U.S. Senate has been to expand access to affordable health care for all Americans. I recently introduced the bipartisan Access to Affordable Health Care Act, a comprehensive plan that builds on the strengths of our current public programs and private health care system to make affordable health care available to millions more Americans. While I do have some questions -- for example, about the relative value of tax deductions, as the President has proposed, versus tax credits for low and moderate income families – I am pleased that he has highlighted this important issue, and I look forward to learning more about his plan.
“In addition, I applaud the President for reaffirming his commitment to direct humanitarian aid to fund the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
“On the issue of Iraq, there is no more critical issue facing our nation right now than developing a new strategy. I remain steadfastly opposed to an overall increase in American troops in Baghdad. Yesterday, I joined with Senators Warner and Nelson in announcing our draft of a bipartisan Resolution that will put the Senate on record on this vital issue. Ultimately, resolving the sectarian violence requires a political, not a military, solution. "
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