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Susan M. Collins was elected to represent the State of Maine in the United States Senate in 1996 and was re-elected to a second term in 2002. Senator Collins serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Senator Collins also serves on the Armed Services Committee, the Special Committee on Aging, and the Joint Economic Committee.
ExecutiveBiz: What's the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's top priority for this session?
Susan Collins:
My goal this year is to continue promoting a bipartisan working environment in the Committee so that we can focus on tackling the important issues facing this country. I hope that the success we had at the end of last year with the bipartisan Collins-Lieberman intelligence reform legislation will start us off on the right foot this year.
I anticipate building on our work in the last Congress to strengthen our national security by, among other things, overseeing and improving the Department of Homeland Security and investigating sources of terrorism financing. I also plan to investigate wasteful government spending, modernize the United States Postal Service, investigate the United Nations "Oil for Food" Program, and enhance federal employee benefits.
ExecutiveBiz: When will the Committee take up the issue of immigration reform? How can we mitigate the threat posed by illegal immigrants to commit terrorist attacks on U.S. soil?
Susan Collins:
In the Senate, the Judiciary Committee traditionally handles immigration reform legislation.
The Collins-Lieberman intelligence reform bill takes groundbreaking steps to improve immigration enforcement, border security, transportation security, information sharing, and driver's license standards to help eliminate fraud. The legislation requires an increase in the number of border patrol agents by not less than 2,000 in each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010. It also mandates an increase in the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators by not less that 800 each year and an increase in the number of beds available for immigration detention and removal operations by not less than 8,000 each year.
In addition, the Collins-Lieberman bill includes provisions to: tighten criminal laws and penalties that apply to terrorists and those who support terrorists; make the country's borders, transportation, and critical infrastructure more secure by investing in more modern technologies and requiring better identification procedures; promote aggressive outreach to the Muslim world to dry up terrorists' supply of new recruits; and improve communications among federal, state and local law enforcement coast to coast.
ExecutiveBiz: What are you looking for in the next Director of Homeland Security?
Susan Collins:
I think a Director of Homeland Security has to be a strong leader and manager, and must have an intimate knowledge of what our homeland security personnel need to do their jobs to keep our country safe. In particular, I would hope that the future director makes first responders a priority since they are on the front lines of our communities, serving as the eyes and ears in guarding against the threat of domestic terrorism, and they are the first emergency workers who people call when natural or man-made disasters strike.
ExecutiveBiz: How will the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act impact government contracting?
Susan Collins:
The Collins-Lieberman intelligence reform bill establishes strong budget authority for the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) that includes determining the budget for the 15 agencies within the intelligence community, including for acquisition programs. The legislation gives the DNI joint authority with the Secretary of Defense regarding acquisition milestones, meaning acquisition projects for the defense intelligence agencies that fall under the DNI's jurisdiction are now subject to DNI scrutiny. In addition, the DNI has the authority to transfer funds among agencies in the national intelligence community, provided an acquisition program is not terminated. In short, the DNI will play a greater role than the DCI did with respect to major acquisitions.
ExecutiveBiz: What is your view on Senate changing the rules to use the so called "nuclear option" as it relates to future judicial nominees?
Susan Collins:
I am hopeful that the Senate will be able to act expeditiously to hold votes on the President's nominations.
For more information about
(R-ME), visit
collins.senate.gov.
To read a detailed biography,
please click here.
Interview with Susan Collins conducted by JD Kathuria.
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