Minority News Releases
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
07.20.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 Energy and Water 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) 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 bipartisan vote of 29-0, provides $58.095 billion in discretionary funding, including $33.422 billion in defense funding an… Continue Reading
07.13.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 28-1 Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) 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 28-1, provides $71.734 billion in discretionary funding, including $6.674 billion in de… Continue Reading
07.13.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 Financial Service & General Government 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) Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Act, providing support for physical and cyber security, communications infrastructure, and overall legislative work capacity. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 29-0, provides $16.950 billion in discretionary funding, including $43 million in defen… Continue Reading
07.13.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 Legislative Branch 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) Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, providing support for physical and cyber security, communications infrastructure, and overall legislative work capacity. The measure, which was advanced by a bipartisan vote of 29-0, provides $4.742 billion in discretionary funding for legislative branch agencies, including $1.24 billion for the… Continue Reading
07.11.23
Senate Appropriations Committee Hosts JDRF Children’s Congress
Approximately 165 Children’s Congress delegates from all 50 states and five countries attended the hearing. Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, as well as Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, hosted a hearing titled, “Accelerating Breakthroughs: How the Special Diabetes Program Is Creating Hope for those Living with … Continue Reading
06.22.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 Agriculture 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) 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 bipartisan vote of 28-0, provides $25.993 billion in discretionary… Continue Reading
06.22.23
Senate Committee Approves FY24 MilCon-VA 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) 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 bipartisan vot… Continue Reading
06.08.23
Senator Collins Questions National Guard Chief on Classified Information Leak by Massachusetts Airman
Washington, D.C. – At a hearing to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Senator Susan Collis, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Chief of the National Guard Bureau General Daniel Hokanson on the recent accusation against a member of the Massachusetts’ Air National Guard for leaking classified documents in an online chat group. Senator Collins said: General Hokanson, I want to follow up on … Continue Reading
06.05.23
Senator Collins Calls for Proportional Fielding of New Aircraft to National Guard and Reserves
Washington, D.C. – At a hearing to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the National Guard and Reserve Components, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, engaged with Chief of the Air Force Reserve Lieutenant General John Healy on the importance of fielding new modernized aircraft, to include tankers and fighters, in a manner that is concurrent and proportional to the Guard a… Continue Reading
05.25.23
Senator Collins’ Statement on Nomination of CQ Brown to Serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, released this statement following the announcement that United States Air Force General Charles Q. "CQ" Brown has been nominated by President Biden as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: “As the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, I have valued General Brown̵… Continue Reading
05.17.23
Senator Collins Stresses Need to Arm Taiwan for Self-Defense, Replenish U.S. Military Stockpiles to Deter China
Washington, D.C. – At a full Appropriations Committee hearing to review the President’s fiscal year 2024 budget request related to U.S.-China policy, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Committee, questioned Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on U.S. military stockpiles affected by obligations of legislation to provide Taiwan with means to defend itself. Secretary Austin confirmed press reports that the Administration will be exercising authority to provide addition… Continue Reading
05.17.23
Murray and Collins Plan to Begin Bipartisan Senate Appropriations Markups in June
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, announced their plans to hold markups of bipartisan funding bills in June. “As yesterday’s hearing made clear, passing bipartisan, on-time appropriations bills is critical if we want to stay ahead of competitors like the Chinese government,” said Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins. “Ther… Continue Reading
05.16.23
Senator Collins: The Fentanyl Crisis ‘Begins and Ends in China’
Washington, D.C. — At a full Appropriations Committee hearing to review the President’s fiscal year 2024 budget request related to U.S.-China policy, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Committee, stressed the need to curtail China’s involvement in the fentanyl crisis in America. In her opening remarks, Senator Collins said: As one Department of Homeland Security official recently testified, the fentanyl crisis ‘begins and ends… Continue Reading
05.15.23
Senator Collins Calls for Increased Funding to Cover Military Fuel Shortfalls
Washington, D.C. — At a hearing to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Department of Defense, U.S. Senator Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley on the Administration’s under-budgeted calculations for fuel costs to maintain military readiness. Senator Collins said: Let's assume that we do achieve our goal, of enacting the [Department of Defense] appropriations bill on time.… Continue Reading
05.12.23
Senator Collins Questions Secretary of Defense on Terrorism Threat From Afghanistan
Washington, D.C. — At a hearing to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Department of Defense, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan that fell into the hands of U.S. adversaries. Senator Collins said: Another threat to the United States is a terrorist attack. I think with our focus on China, Russia, Iran, and … Continue Reading