Minority News Releases

05.15.24

Collins, Graham Call for Answers as Administration Withholds Key Israel Assistance

  Washington, D.C. - As the top Republicans of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees overseeing the Departments of Defense and State, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for answers surrounding the Administration’s decision to withhold certain assistance from Israel.    Senator Collins is the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Defense Ap… Continue Reading


05.13.24

Senator Collins Questions Acting Secretary of Labor on Proposed Changes to Volunteer Fire Dept. Standards

  Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.   Washington, D.C. - Last week at an Appropriations hearing, U.S. Senator Susan Collins questioned Acting Secretary of the Department of Labor (DOL) Julie Su on proposed changes by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that, in current form, would be detrimental to volunteer fire departments in rural communities in Maine and throughout the country.  Senator Collins is the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee.   During Q&am… Continue Reading


05.09.24

Collins Calls on Secretary of Labor to Issue H-2B Visas

  Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.   Washington, D.C. - Ahead of Maine’s peak tourism season, U.S. Senator Collins questioned Acting Secretary of the Department of Labor (DOL) Julie Su at an Appropriations hearing on the urgent need to make the authorized additional H-2B visas available to help fill open jobs in Maine’s hospitality industry.    As Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins secured language in Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations legislation that allowed… Continue Reading


05.02.24

Senator Collins Questions VA Secretary on Support Needed for Veterans’ Home

  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 Veteran Affairs (VA), U.S. Senator Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned VA Secretary Denis McDonough on the need to support veterans’ homes and veterans in rural communities.  During the hearing, Secretary McDonough committed to working with Senator Collins to finds ways to help support financially troubled state vete… Continue Reading


05.01.24

Senator Collins Highlights Maine’s 101st Air Refueling Wing at Hearing with Top Pentagon Officials

  Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.   Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for military construction, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, highlighted the important role the Maine Air National Guard’s (MEANG) 101st Air Refueling Wing plays in our national defense.   The existing fuel cell hangar in Bangor was designed and built to accommodate the Wing's existing KC-135s.  The proposed project would construct… Continue Reading


04.30.24

Senator Collins Questions Secretary of Education on Rise of Anti-Semitism on College Campuses

  Opening Remarks: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.   Q&A with Secretary Cardona: 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 Education, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of the Department of Education Miguel Cardona on the rise of anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses throughout the country.   During her open… Continue Reading


04.30.24

Collins Blasts Secretary of Education on Inexcusable FAFSA Delays

  Opening Remarks: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.   Q&A with Secretary Cardona: 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 Education, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of the Department of Education Miguel Cardona on the Department’s failure to implement the FAFSA Simplification Act, which has delayed students and… Continue Reading


04.23.24

Collins Urges Colleagues to Recognize Perilous Times, Pass National Security Supplemental

  Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.   Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, delivered remarks on the Senate floor today ahead of the Senate’s procedural votes on the national security supplemental package.  Senator Collins is managing the legislation on the Senate floor, which reflects the bipartisan bill she negotiated with Chair Patty Murray that the Senate passed in February.   In addition to … Continue Reading


04.17.24

Senator Collins Questions U.S. Attorney General on Efforts to Shut Down Illegal Chinese Marijuana Operations in Maine

  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 Justice (DOJ), U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on what federal law enforcement is doing to help shut down illegal Chinese marijuana growing operations in Maine and support the efforts of state, county, and local law enforcement.   During Q&A with Atto… Continue Reading


04.17.24

Collins: “The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery is the gold standard.”

  Senator Collins stresses need to maintain readiness of submarines and support public shipyards   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. Navy and Marine Corps, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, questioned Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti on efforts to reduce the submarine maintenance backlog and highlighted the r… Continue Reading


04.09.24

Senator Collins Calls for Action on National Security Supplemental, Questions Secretary Kendall on Risks to the Air Force in Budget Request

  Opening Remarks: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.   Q&A with Secretary of the Air Force Kendall: 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. Air Force and Space Force, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, highlighted the risks the Administration’s request would impose on our national defense.  Senator Collins also highlighte… Continue Reading


03.23.24

Congress Passes Final Six FY24 Appropriations Bills

  Senator Collins was a lead negotiator of the bipartisan legislation.   Washington, D.C. - Today, by a vote of 74-24, the U.S. Senate passed the second six-bill Fiscal Year (FY24) appropriations package.  U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, was a lead negotiator of the bipartisan legislation, which now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.   The legislation provides FY24 appropriations for: Defense; Finan… Continue Reading


03.22.24

Senator Collins Urges Colleagues to Support FY24 Six-Bill Appropriations Package, Avert Shutdown

  Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.   Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, delivered remarks on the U.S. Senate floor today to urge her colleagues to support the second six-bill Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations package.  Senator Collins helped lead negotiations on the legislation, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a 286-134 vote earlier today.   A transcript of Senator Collins’ re… Continue Reading


03.21.24

Senators Murray and Collins Statement on Release of Final FY24 Funding Bills

  Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee respectively, issued the following statement after releasing the second and final bipartisan package of fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills.   “These final six bills represent a bipartisan and bicameral compromise—they will invest in the American people, build a stronger economy, help keep our communities safe, and strengthen our nat… Continue Reading


03.08.24

Congress Passes Six FY24 Government Funding Bills

  Senator Collins was a lead negotiator of the bipartisan legislation.   Washington, D.C. - Today, by a vote of 75-22, the U.S. Senate passed the six-bill Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations package.  U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was a lead negotiator of the bipartisan legislation, which now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.   The legislation includes FY24 funding for: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Ad… Continue Reading


03.08.24

Senator Collins Calls on Colleagues to Support FY24 Six-Bill Appropriations Package, Avert Shutdown

  Collins: “Why in the world would we want to shut down government and stop serving the American people?”   Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.   Washington, D.C. - Ahead of the U.S. Senate’s procedural vote today to advance the six-bill Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations package, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor to urge her colleagues to pass the bipartisan legislative package without delay. Following… Continue Reading


03.06.24

Senator Collins Urges Colleagues to Support FY24 Six-Bill Appropriations Package

  Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.   Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered remarks on the U.S. Senate floor tonight to urge her colleagues to support the six-bill Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations package.  Senator Collins helped lead negotiations on the legislation, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming 339-85 vote on Wednesday afternoon.   A transcript of Senator Collins’ remarks ar… Continue Reading


03.03.24

Senate Appropriations Committee Releases Text of Six FY24 Appropriations Bills

  Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released a statement on the legislation unveiled today containing bill text for six Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations divisions.  The legislation will be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives and then the U.S. Senate.   The legislation includes bill text for FY24: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and … Continue Reading


02.28.24

Schumer, McConnell, Johnson, Jeffries, Murray, Collins, Granger, DeLauro Joint Statement On FY24 Appropriations Agreement

  Washington, D.C. - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), and Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) along with Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement:   “We are in agreement that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to fund our government.… Continue Reading


02.13.24

Senator Collins’ Statement on Senate Passage of National Security Supplemental

  Washington, D.C. - Today, by a vote of 70-29, the U.S. Senate passed the national security supplemental package.  U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, was a lead negotiator of the bipartisan legislation, which now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.   Following the vote this morning, Senator Collins issued this statement:   “The national security bill passed by the Senate is of profound impo… Continue Reading

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