Minority News Releases
Senator Collins Urges Actions to Address Out-of-Control Border Security Crisis
“In the State of Maine, encounters have increased over 450 percent since fiscal year 2021.” Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, there were a record 12,381 encounters with foreign nationals entering the U.S. along the southwest border without authorization. In response to this ongoing—and worsening crisis—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor today to call for bipa… Continue Reading
12.14.23
NEW: Secretary of Defense, Top Pentagon Leadership Sound Alarm That a Year-long CR Would Jeopardize Our National Defense
In new letters to top Senate Appropriations leaders, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Army, Navy, and Air Force service secretaries detail the harm of a full-year continuing resolution for DoD ICYMI: Chair Murray Warns of Devastating Implications of a Full-Year CR - MORE HERE ICYMI: Vice Chair Collins Calls for Action on Appropriations, Full-Year Defense Funding Bills - MORE HERE Washington, D.C. — In new letters to Senate Appropriations… Continue Reading
11.29.23
Senator Collins Calls for Action on Appropriations, Defense Funding Bills
Click HERE to watch. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, delivered remarks on the Senate floor today to urge action on the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills and warn against the dangers of a year-long continuing resolution. A transcript of Senator Collins’ remarks are as follows: Madam President, I come to the floor to urge action on the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills that fund … Continue Reading
11.08.23
Senator Collins’ Opening Remarks at Hearing on Supplemental Funding Request for HHS, DHS
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at a full Committee hearing with Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on the President’s supplemental funding requests for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): “Thank you very much, … Continue Reading
11.01.23
Senate Passes Three FY24 Appropriations Bills
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, announced today that the U.S. Senate has passed three Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bills by a vote of 82-15. The bills must now be conferenced with the U.S. House of Representatives. The three bills are: the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA); Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; and … Continue Reading
10.31.23
Senator Collins Questions Secretary of State Blinken on Administration’s Position on an Israel Ceasefire
Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ Q&A with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. Click HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - At an Appropriations Committee hearing today on the President’s national security funding request, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, asked Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to clarify the Administration’s position on an Israel ceasefire. Senator Collins said: Israel has every right t… Continue Reading
10.31.23
Senator Collins Opening Remarks at Hearing on National Security Supplemental Request
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, delivered the following opening remarks at a full Committee hearing with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the President’s national security supplemental funding request: “Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin for joining us today … Continue Reading
10.04.23
Senators Murray and Collins Statement Following Senate Appropriations Committee Briefing on Ukraine
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 below statement following a classified Senate Appropriations Committee briefing on U.S. Assistance to Ukrainian Air Defenses. “This morning, we received an update on Ukrainian Air Defenses and the role of U.S. assistance—and it is clear as day that continued American military and economic support for Ukraine … Continue Reading
09.30.23
Schumer, McConnell, Murray, Collins, Coons, Graham Joint Statement On The Senate’s Commitment To Supporting Ukraine
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released the following joint statement with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME), Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Chair Chris Coons (D-DE), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on the Senate’s bipartisan commitment to supporting Ukraine: “We we… Continue Reading
09.30.23
Senator Collins’ Statement on Passage of Continuing Resolution, Avoiding Government Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, released the below statement following the Senate’s passage of a continuing resolution by a vote of 88-9: “Today’s passage of a continuing resolution averts a shutdown and is a victory for common sense. “Government shutdowns are harmful and should be avoided at all costs. They deprive our military, border patrol agents, air traffic controllers, and airport security personnel (TSA) of their p… Continue Reading
09.12.23
Murray and Collins Kick Off Consideration of First Appropriations Bills on the Senate Floor
Senate voted 85-12 this afternoon to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to first three appropriations bills on the Senate floor, commencing debate on the package ***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S FLOOR REMARKS HERE*** ***WATCH SENATOR COLLINS’ FLOOR REMARKS HERE*** 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, spoke on the Senate floor, kicking off consideration of … Continue Reading
09.06.23
Senators Murray and Collins Issue Statement on Plans to Proceed with First Package of Appropriations Bills on Senate Floor
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 on plans to proceed with consideration of the first set of appropriations bills on the Senate floor. The first three bills set to be considered by the full Senate include: the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; Transportation, Housing and Urban … Continue Reading
08.11.23
Senators Murray and Collins Issue Statement on Biden Administration Supplemental Funding Request
Washington, D.C. — 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 in response to the Biden administration’s supplemental funding request: “We look forward to reviewing the administration’s supplemental funding request carefully. Whether it’s supplemental funding to defend against Russian aggression in Ukraine, to strengthen our global competitiveness, to provide d… Continue Reading
07.27.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 24-4 Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Homeland Security Appropriations Act, providing funding to strengthen border security, support the U.S. Coast Guard, respond to natural disasters, and combat the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. The measure, which was advanced by a bipartisan vote of 24-4, provides $61.364 billion in discretionary funding, including $3.612 billion in… Continue Reading
07.27.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 26-2 Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) 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 bipartisan vote of 26-2, provides $224.4 billion in discretionary funding. “This bill supports working families through increased r… Continue Reading
07.27.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 28-0 Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) 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 bipartisan vote of 28-0, provides $42.695 billion in discretionary funding, including $2.650 billion in wildland fire suppression funding.… Continue Reading
07.27.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 Defense Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 27-1 Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Defense Appropriations Act, providing 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 bipartisan vote of 27-1, provides $831 billion in funding—an increase of $5.1 billion more than the Pr… Continue Reading
07.27.23
Senators Murray and Collins Issue Statement After Passing All 12 Appropriations Bills Out of Committee for First Time in Five Years
Washington, D.C. — 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 today after the Senate Appropriations Committee concluded its work to successfully mark up all twelve appropriations bills for the first time in five years: “For the first time in five years, this committee finished passing all twelve individual appropriations bills with overwhelming bipartisan … Continue Reading
07.20.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 29-0 Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) 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 bipartisan vote of 29-0, provides $98.931 billion in discretionary funding, includ… Continue Reading
07.20.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 27-2 Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, providing critical security assistance to allies, promotes democracy abroad, and continues lifesaving humanitarian and global health assistance. The measure, which was advanced by a bipartisan vote of 27-2, provides $61.608 billion in discretionary fund… Continue Reading