I am saddened to learn of the passing of Andrew Cross, the volunteer firefighter who lost his life while responding to the fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont yesterday. My heart goes out to his family, his friends, and the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department, where he served. A member of my staff knew Andrew for many years and played soccer with him from the time they were young. He said that everyone knew Andrew as a kindhearted, hardworking Maine man who loved his family, his dogs, and the people of his community. He was the kind of person who could always be seen with a smile on his face, and his loss is being felt deeply. Andrew’s life is a shining example of the courage, bravery, and selfless love of others that can be found in every town and city across our great state. Our first responders give more than we could ever repay to help keep us and our loved ones safe, and it is incumbent on us to honor their sacrifices. May Andrew’s memory be a blessing.

The Robbins family is beloved in the Searsmont community, and Robbins Lumber is a piece of Maine history. I have known the family for many years. My heart goes out to them, their employees, and the first responders who have come from all over the region to help in the emergency response. This is a very sad crisis, and all those affected are in my prayers.

It is not right for senators to receive their paychecks while federal employees are forced to go without pay as a result of Congress’s dysfunction. While I hope we do not see another shutdown anytime soon, this has been a longstanding policy of mine and I am glad to see it adopted.

I was proud to receive the Franklin D. Roosevelt Service and Conservation Corps Leadership Award from @Voices4Service for my longstanding work championing AmeriCorps programs. As a member of the National Service Congressional Caucus, I have worked to protect and expand national service programs that help communities across the country address critical needs in education, senior services, public health, disaster relief, conservation, and support for veterans and military families.

Thank you, @AHLA! The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that for every 100 open jobs in Maine, there are only 67 available workers, and each year, "Vacationland" welcomes approximately ten times its population as visitors. That is why I strongly support the H-2B visa program to temporarily fill the seasonal roles that many inns, restaurants, and hotels rely on. By helping ensure these businesses have the workers they need to keep running, the program also protects the jobs of American employees.

Great catching up with Mainers today at constituent coffee! https://t.co/j1nFVTDjFZ

I was honored to meet the crew of Artemis II today, along with my colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history. Their courage reminds us of all of the amazing places American ingenuity can take us. The Moon is just the beginning!

This National Police Week, we recognize the bravery, service, and commitment of our extraordinary law enforcement officers who protect us every day. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to these brave men and women who sacrifice so much for the safety of our families and communities.

May 8, 1945 – Victory in Europe Day. On this day each year, we honor the service and sacrifice of the millions of Americans who fought to preserve freedom and defeat the Nazis. Adolf Hitler’s regime represented evil and hatred in its purest form, and the courage of the Allied forces resulted in their overwhelming defeat. One of those men was my father, Donald Collins, who served as a sergeant in the Army’s 87th Infantry Division. He was wounded twice and earned two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star for his bravery during the Battle of the Bulge. Freedom is a cause that’s always been, and will continue to be, worth fighting for.

Today, the U.S. Navy awarded Bath Iron Works a contract to build the next DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. This award is a testament to the highly skilled and hard-working men and women of BIW and once again shows that “Bath Built is Best Built.” The new ship, the DDG-149, will be named after retired Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Robert R. Ingram, a Vietnam War veteran, Medal of Honor recipient, and American hero who repeatedly braved heavy enemy fire to treat and save the lives of many wounded Marines following an ambush by the North Vietnamese, sustaining four gunshot wounds himself in the process.