[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 129 (Thursday, August 6, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO SUSAN RENE COLLINS

  Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
Susan Rene Collins on her remarkable 23 years of dedicated service to 
the people of North Carolina.
  Rene began her public service career with then-Congressman Richard 
Burr as a constituent advocate and continued serving alongside him 
after his election to the U.S. Senate as a senior constituent advocate 
from 2003 to 2022. Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated an 
unwavering commitment to the people of North Carolina, assisting 
thousands of constituents in navigating complex Federal agencies. She 
also led critical efforts during times of crisis, coordinating the 
rescue and evacuation of Americans from Lebanon, Peru, and Afghanistan. 
In addition, she helped North Carolina communities recover from 
devastating hurricanes by working closely with Federal, State, and 
local partners to ensure that countless families and individuals 
received the assistance they needed most.
  Continuing her dedication to serving North Carolinians, Rene joined 
my office as a senior constituent advocate in 2022. She quickly became 
a trusted resource, providing expert assistance on immigration and U.S. 
Department of State matters. Her work has helped employers secure 
critical workforce talent through successful visa coordination, 
including support for businesses expanding operations in North Carolina 
and healthcare providers working to address physician shortages. She 
also continued her commitment to humanitarian service by assisting 
Afghan Special Immigrant Visa recipients in navigating the relocation 
process safely, reflecting her steadfast dedication to serving others 
with professionalism and compassion.
  Rene's commitment to public service extends far beyond the ordinary. 
In one extraordinary case, she worked tirelessly to secure visas for a 
father and his young son, who had been diagnosed with brain cancer and 
required lifesaving treatment at Texas Children's Hospital. Not only 
did she obtain the visas, but she did so in record time, helping ensure 
the child received the medical care that ultimately saved his life. Her 
efforts forever changed the lives of that family.
  Susan Rene Collins's lifetime of service to North Carolina stands as 
a testament to the extraordinary impact one dedicated public servant 
can make in the lives of others. I congratulate Rene on this well-
deserved recognition and thank her for her unwavering commitment and 
compassionate service to the people of the great State of North 
Carolina.

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