PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – Maine Sen. Susan Collins won’t be able to accompany Vice President-elect Joe Biden and a group of Senate colleagues on a trip to southwest Asia this week.

Spokesman Kevin Kelley says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid changed the Senate’s schedule and expects to keep senators in session this week. Because of that, Collins and Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Jack Reed of Rhode Island had to beg off the trip.

Biden’s spokeswoman says the fact-finding mission will help inform executive and congressional reviews of U.S. policy toward the region in the coming months.

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