U.S. Senator Susan Collins participated in a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Award Ceremony held at the Caribou VFW Post 9389, where she joined in presenting awards to students and educators. During the event, Collins was also honored with the National Job Corps Association Champion Award in recognition of her support for the Job Corps program.
“It was wonderful participating in today’s award ceremony at the Caribou VFW and shaking the hands of so many veterans, students and educators who are making a positive impact on their communities,” said Senator Collins. “I was also honored to receive the National Job Corps Association Champion Award. I’ve always been a strong supporter of Job Corps because I have seen firsthand the critical work they do to improve the lives of vulnerable young people in Maine and across the country. I was glad to protect Maine Job Corps last year from closures and fund this program as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. I’ll continue working to ensure the future is bright for Job Corps and the students it serves.”
Last year, Senator Collins announced that the U.S. Department of Labor decided to resume enrollment at both Loring and Penobscot Job Corps Centers after previously planning to halt new admissions. This reversal followed repeated appeals by Collins to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez DeRemer, highlighting successful outcomes such as that of Adais Viruet-Torres, a former student who overcame homelessness and now works as a nurse practitioner after graduating from Loring Job Corps Center and Husson University.
As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins helped secure $1.8 billion in federal funding for the national Job Corps program through recent legislation.
