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Brad Farrin of Norridgewock served nearly three decades in the Maine Air National Guard, retiring in 2013 as the state’s highest-ranking enlisted airman. A veteran of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, he earned more than 18 military awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal. He also has more than a decade of legislative experience, having served in the Maine House of Representatives and is currently a member of the Maine Senate.
I spent nearly 30 years in the Maine Air National Guard, including deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. I know what it means to serve, and I know the sacrifices military families make. When our men and women come home, we have an obligation to make sure they get the care and benefits they earned.
That’s why I took issue with the recent Bangor Daily News opinion column criticizing Sen. Susan Collins over veterans’ health care.
Let’s be clear. The VA has problems. Veterans still face long wait times, staffing shortages and challenges getting appointments. That’s unacceptable, and we need to keep working to fix it. Every veteran deserves access to quality care.
But it’s one thing to point out problems. It’s another to suggest Collins hasn’t been fighting for veterans. Her record tells a different story.
As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins helped advance the fiscal year 2026 VA funding bill, which provides $164.9 billion for VA medical care. That includes $18.9 billion for mental health services and $6.4 billion for telehealth programs, serving veterans in rural areas, $1.4 billion for women veterans, and $3.5 billion combat veteran homelessness and support caregivers.
Those dollars matter. They help veterans get care, support families and make services available to those who need them.
And we’ve seen results here in Maine. In April, a new residential rehabilitation treatment facility opened at the Togus VA Medical Center. Maine veterans who needed this level of treatment for PTSD, depression and substance use disorders often had to travel out of state. Now, they can receive that care closer to home.
That’s a big deal. If you’ve ever had a family member struggle with mental health or substance use, you understand how important it is to get help close to home. This is the kind of investment that makes a real difference in veterans’ lives.
Collins has also supported the PACT Act, which expanded care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances, and efforts to strengthen mental health services and improve access to care.
Is there more to do? Absolutely. I would never tell a veteran who is struggling to get an appointment that everything is fine. But I also won’t ignore the work being done to improve the system.
The column also raises allegations involving campaign contributions and a defense contractor. Those allegations should be examined based on the evidence. But they should not be confused with proof of wrongdoing, or used to dismiss Collins’ record on veterans’ issues.
I believe in accountability. I spent my military career holding myself and others to a standard, and I expect the same from our elected officials. But accountability also means being fair and giving credit where it is due.
That’s one reason I’m proud to serve as a co-chair of Veterans for Collins alongside Kelly Hoffses, who recently retired after 41 years of military service. Veterans from across Maine and every branch of the armed forces have joined this coalition because we believe Susan Collins has worked to deliver for those who served.
We know there are challenges facing our veterans. We also know the difference between pointing out a problem and working to solve it.
Maine veterans deserve honest answers and real results. They deserve leaders who will fight for the funding, services and care they need.
Our veterans did their duty. We owe it to them to do ours.