# Sen. Susan Collins Accuses Sen. Maria Cantwell of Blocking Relief for Maine Lobstermen as Cruz Promises a Senate Push

Collins says Cantwell worked against the 2022 pause on whale-protection rules and is holding up the bill to extend it. Cantwell is heading to Maine alongside Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson. Cruz says he will advance the bill in November.

- Section: [Politics](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/politics/)
- Published: 2026-10-31
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/collins-accuses-cantwell-blocking-maine-lobstermen-whale-rule-pause-2035-cruz-vows-action-troy-jackson-fox-news/

A fight over Maine's lobster fishery has landed in the final week of the state's Senate race, Fox News Digital reports.

The charge. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told Fox she is glad Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., is coming to Maine "to finally listen to our lobstermen." She said that in 2022 Cantwell "worked against the Maine delegation's effort to halt the Biden regulations that threatened lobstermen's livelihoods," and that this year Cantwell "has been blocking the bill to extend the regulatory pause that we secured in 2022."

The bill. The Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act was introduced by Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, and Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and passed the House in September. It would extend an existing pause on new federal rules meant to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale through 2035. Supporters say that gives Maine's lobster industry time before costly restrictions take effect.

The industry. In a September letter urging the Senate Commerce Committee to move the bill, Collins and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, wrote that the Maine Lobstermen's Association estimates the industry supports about $2 billion in yearly economic activity and more than 17,500 jobs.

The Senate side. Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, pledged this week to advance the bill when Congress returns in November. He credited Collins with leading the effort and said he hopes the Senate can pass it "without changes or further delay" so it can go to President Trump.

The visit. Cantwell is expected to attend a listening session with Maine lobstermen alongside Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson at an event hosted by the Maine Lobster Union. Fox says neither Cantwell nor Jackson answered its repeated requests for comment.

Note for readers: the claims about Cantwell's past role come from Collins and Cruz. Fox did not get a response from Cantwell, so her side is not in this story. The bill's House sponsors include a Democrat and a Republican.

## Source

Original reporting: [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/collins-accuses-top-senate-dem-blocking-protections-maine-lobstermen-cruz-vows-action)