Minority News Releases
Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Act, providing support for the administration of the tax code, judicial branch operations, prevention of fraud against consumers and investors, and construction, leasing, and maintenance of most federal office space. The measure, which was advanced by a unanimous vote of 27-0, provides $21.2 billion in discretionary funding, including… Continue Reading
08.01.24
Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 Defense Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Defense Appropriations Act, providing the U.S. military services with the funding needed to deter China and Russia, support service members and their families, and strengthen the defense industrial base. The measure, which was advanced by a unanimous vote 28-0, provides $851.7 billion in discretionary funding - 3.3 percent higher than the FY 2024 enacted budget and 2.3 percent higher than the Pre… Continue Reading
08.01.24
Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, providing support to strengthen America’s workforce and fund important health and education programs. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 25-3, provides $205.7 billion in discretionary funding. The bill also includes a further $2.8 billion in funding provided through the program integrity funding cap adjustment. “This … Continue Reading
08.01.24
Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, providing support to advance America’s energy independence and improve water infrastructure across the country. The measure, which was advanced by a unanimous vote of 28-0, provides $61.5 billion in discretionary funding, including $35 billion in defense funding and $26.5 billion in non-defense funding. “The Energy and Water Development bill will help s… Continue Reading
07.25.24
Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, providing critical security assistance to allies, promoting democracy abroad, and continuing lifesaving humanitarian and global health assistance. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 24-5, provides $61.6 billion in discretionary funding. “Recognizing America’s leadership in the world, this legislation invests in programs tha… Continue Reading
07.25.24
Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act, providing support to improve America’s infrastructure and address housing affordability challenges. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 28-1, provides $98.7 billion in discretionary funding, including $448 million in defense and $98.3 billion in nondefense funding. “It is critical that we prioriti… Continue Reading
07.25.24
Bill to Fund Key Transportation and Housing Programs in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for Maine in the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Act. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House. The measure, which was advanced by vote of 28-1, provides $98.7 billion in discretionary funding… Continue Reading
07.25.24
Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act, providing support for law enforcement, economic development, scientific research, and other national priorities. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 26-3, provides $73.7 billion in discretionary funding, including $6.6 billion in defense funding and $67.1 billion in nondefense funding. "The brave men and women that ma… Continue Reading
07.25.24
Bill to Support Maine’s Lobster Industry Clears Appropriations Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced significant funding and key language to support Maine’s lobster industry in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House. “This funding would support Maine’s lobster industry… Continue Reading
07.25.24
Bill to Fund Key Interior and Environmental Programs in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for Maine in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House. The measure, which was advanced by vote of 28-1, provides $41.9 billion in discretionary fundi… Continue Reading
07.25.24
Collins Advances Provision Strengthening Federal Response to Illegal Marijuana Grows in Maine
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, advanced language in the Fiscal Year 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act that directs the Departments of State and Treasury to disclose any information on Chinese criminal syndicates involved in illegal marijuana grows and money laundering in Maine and throughout the United States. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee tod… Continue Reading
07.25.24
Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing support for tribal programs, National Parks, public lands, and federal efforts to suppress wildfires. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 28-1, provides $41.9 billion in discretionary funding. The bill also includes nearly $2.8 billion in funding provided through the wildfire suppression cap adjustment. “Fr… Continue Reading
07.11.24
Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 Agriculture Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 27-0 Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing support for critical agriculture, rural development, nutrition, conservation, and food and drug safety programs. The measure, which was advanced by a unanimous vote of 27-0, provides $27 billion in discretionary funding. “This important bill s… Continue Reading
07.11.24
Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 27-0 Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, providing support for physical and cyber security, technology infrastructure, and overall legislative work capacity. The measure, which was advanced by a unanimous vote of 27-0, provides $7 billion in discretionary funding for legislative branch agencies, when combined with funding for the U.S. House of Representa… Continue Reading
07.11.24
Bill to Fund Key Military Construction Projects in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 27-0 Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for Maine in the Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act. The measure, which was advanced by a unanimous vote of 27-0, provides $148.9 billion in discretionary funding, including $19.3 billion in defense funding and $129.6 billion in … Continue Reading
07.11.24
Bill to Fund Key Agricultural Programs in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 27-0 Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for projects in Maine in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The measure, which was advanced by a unanimous vote of 27-0, provides $27 billion in discretionary funding. “This important legislation will assist … Continue Reading
07.11.24
Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 27-0 Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act, providing support for critical housing, infrastructure, and facilities for U.S. military forces and their families, as well as increased funding for veterans health care and benefits. The measure, which was advanced by a unanimous vote of 27-0, provides $148.9 bill… Continue Reading
06.18.24
Senator Collins Presses Top Army Reserve Official on Investigations into Lewiston Shooting
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - At an Appropriations hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for the U.S. National Guard and Army Reserves, U.S. Senator Susan Collins questioned Army Reserve Chief Lieutenant General Jody Daniels about the Army’s investigations into the horrific mass shooting that occurred in Lewiston, Maine on October 25, 2023. The killer, Robert Card, was a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army Reserve. During her questions, Senato… Continue Reading
06.06.24
Senator Collins Questions Secretary of the Treasury on Lack of IRS Employees Returning to Workplace Full-Time
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen on the lack of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees returning to the workplace full-time. As of May 5th, the IRS expects its employees to return to the office for half of all their workdays. The IRS is one of … Continue Reading
06.05.24
Senator Collins Questions FBI Director Wray on China’s Involvement in Illegal Marijuana Grow Operations in Maine
Director Wray: “But we are starting to see… more ties between a lot of these growing operations and Chinese organized crime.” Opening remarks: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Q&A with FBI Director Wray: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for the FBI yesterday, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned FBI Director Christopher Wray on potential involvemen… Continue Reading