Susan Collins is a Republican U.S. Senator from Maine who has served since 1997, following her election in 1996.[1] She was born on December 7, 1952, in Caribou, Maine, where her family operates a sixth-generation lumber business.[6] Before entering the Senate, Collins ran unsuccessfully for governor of Maine in 1994 and founded the Center for Family Business at Husson College, where she served as executive director.[4] Throughout her Senate career, Collins has earned recognition as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress, repeatedly ranked as the most bipartisan senator by the Lugar Center and Georgetown University.[1] She has never missed a vote during her entire Senate service, casting over 9,000 votes consecutively.[1] Her legislative accomplishments span multiple areas including homeland security, national defense, health care, and education. Among her key achievements, Collins co-authored the 2004 intelligence community overhaul following the September 11th attacks and led the successful effort to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in 2010.[1] She played instrumental roles in ending government shutdowns in 2013 and 2018, and co-authored the Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 pandemic, which provided critical support to millions of small businesses.[1] In health care, she founded the Senate Diabetes Caucus in 1997 and helped more than triple federal funding for diabetes research.[2] Collins currently serves as Chair of the Appropriations Committee and holds seats on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Intelligence Committee.[6] In January 2025, she received the Army Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest public service recognition awarded by the U.S. Army, recognizing her support through her leadership on defense appropriations.[1] Known for her Maine work ethic and moderate approach to politics, Collins won reelection in 2020 despite increasing polarization and criticism from both parties.