Susan Collins, Maine’s junior Republican senator, was elected in 1996, the first time she won elective office. She is the Ranking Member and former Chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, and also serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Special Committee on Aging. Since joining the Senate, Collins has developed a reputation for her ability to work across party lines to create consensus and find solutions to difficult problems. Prior to her election to the Senate, Collins served as New England regional director of the U.S. Small Business Administration

Collins has developed a strong record on immigrant rights. In 2006, she voted in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. The legislation would expedite the reunification of families currently awaiting visas and increases employment-based sponsorships, measures that would positively impact some of the immigration related concerns of the Iranian American community. Collins is a cosponsor of the Dream Act, which would provide undocumented high school students the opportunity to obtain permanent residency. The students must be planning to attend college or serve in the armed forces to become eligible for permanent.

Collins has co-sponsored legislation to prohibit cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of persons under the custody or control of the United States Government. In 2001, she voted in favor of expanding the definition of hate crimes to incorporate acts committed because of a victim's sex, sexual orientation or disability and permit the federal government to help states prosecute hate crimes even if no federally protected action was implicated.

Background Information
Party: Republican
Term: 2nd
First Elected: 1996
Committees: Armed Services; Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (Rnk. Mem.); Special Aging
Prev. Occupation: Businesswomen
Prev. Political Exp.: No prior elected office
Education: BA St. Lawrence University, 1975

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