BANGOR, ME — The Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe (also known as Sipayik) endorsed U.S. Senator Susan Collins in her bid for re-election. In their letter, they noted her work to improve the economy of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Eastern Maine, and her ability to fund infrastructure improvements as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“I am honored to have the endorsement of the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe, a community that is so important to the culture of our state,” said Senator Collins. “I look forward to our continued work together to ensure Maine’s tribes have the resources they need to strengthen their communities, protect their residents, and build a stronger future.”

“The Passamaquoddy Sipayik Reservation is proud to support Senator Susan Collins in her 2026 re-election campaign. During the past 30 years, Susan has worked tirelessly to improve the economy of both the Passamaquoddy Tribe and community of Washington County,” said Chief Bassett. “Her ability to deliver has really made a difference in our community and we are so grateful. We remain confident that the Eastern Maine economy will continue to grow with Susan Collins in the United States Senate.”

Read the full letter.

Senator Collins is a national leader on issues important to tribes in Maine and across our country. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she has secured $5 million to support the Sipayik’s efforts to construct a new wastewater treatment plant and collection system. Senator Collins secured this funding after hearing from the tribe that the current location of their wastewater treatment plant is at risk of failing due to the increasing height of storm surges and rising tide levels from the ocean. Failure of this system would be devastating to the surrounding tribal elder apartment complex, homes, businesses, and the community at large.

Following a meeting with Chief Bassett in March 2025, Senator Collins engaged with Administration officials to restore a $4M grant that had been previously awarded to Sipayik through the DOI Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Tribal Community Resilience program. This critical funding supported the tribe’s efforts to raise the reactor walls at their current wastewater treatment facility to prevent flooding, develop engineering plans and purchase equipment to build a new, relocated facility at a higher elevation, and install hurricane-resistant roofs on Tribal homes.

Senator Collins led the Native American Child Protection Act with Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), which was signed into law in 2024. This legislation reauthorized and reformed the programs that ensure tribes have the tools needed to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect in their communities.