Majority News Releases
Senators Collins and Murray Announce the Start of the FY26 Appropriations Process, Releasing Guidance on Programmatic, Language, and Congressionally Directed Spending Requests
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Patty Murray, Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, respectively, released guidance for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 programmatic, language, and Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests. The Committee is moving forward with the FY 2026 appropriations process, and will begin hearings later this month. General guidance for Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations requests is available HERE. Programmatic/Language Reque… Continue Reading
03.27.25
Senators Collins, Murray Challenge the Administration’s Treatment of Emergency Spending in Continuing Resolution
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee respectively, sent a letter to Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russ Vought challenging the Administration’s decision and authority to concur with only a portion of the emergency-designated funding included in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. “Regardless of our views on the Fiscal Responsibility… Continue Reading
03.14.25
Senator Collins Urges Colleagues to Support Continuing Resolution, Avert Shutdown
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor today to urge her colleagues to support the continuing resolution to prevent a harmful government shutdown. A transcript of Senator Collins’ remarks are as follows: “Mr. President, I rise to urge passage of this funding measure to prevent an unnecessary, harmful, and costly government shutdown at midnight toni… Continue Reading
03.08.25
Senator Collins’ Statement on Continuing Resolution
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a statement following the release of the text of the continuing resolution: “Our focus must be on preventing an unnecessary and costly government shutdown on Friday, March 14th, at midnight. Government shutdowns are inherently a failure to govern effectively and have negative consequences all across government. They require certain essential government employees, such as Border Patrol age… Continue Reading
02.10.25
Senator Collins’ Statement on NIH Biomedical Research Cap on Indirect Costs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a statement on the cap to indirect costs on biomedical research funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH). “I oppose the poorly conceived directive imposing an arbitrary cap on the indirect costs that are part of NIH grants and negotiated between the grant recipient and NIH. I have heard from the Jackson Laboratory, the University of Maine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, the … Continue Reading
01.29.25
Senator Collins’ Statement on OMB Rescinding Memo to Freeze Federal Funding
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a statement on the decision of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to rescind the memo to temporarily freeze certain federal funding. “I am pleased that OMB is rescinding the memo imposing sweeping pauses in federal programs. While it is not unusual for incoming administrations to review federal programs and policies, this memo was overreaching and created unnecessary con… Continue Reading
01.29.25
Collins, Murray Announce Appropriations Subcommittees Leadership and Rosters for the 119th Congress
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee respectively, announced the Senate Appropriations subcommittee chairs, ranking members, and full rosters for the 119th Congress. The Senate Appropriations subcommittee rosters for the 119th Congress are as follows: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) - Chair Sen. Mitch M… Continue Reading
01.07.25
Senator Collins Officially Becomes Chair of Senate Appropriations Committee
Collins is the first Republican woman to lead the powerful Committee Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins officially became Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Committee holds jurisdiction over all discretionary spending for the entire federal government. First elected in 1996, Susan Collins ranks seventh in Senate seniority and is the most senior Republican woman. She is the first Republican woman to be elected to a fifth term, the first Republican wom… Continue Reading
01.02.25
More Than $42 Million for Maine Coast Guard Facilities Secured by Senator Collins in Disaster Relief Bill
Funding will support repairs to facilities in Rockland, Southwest Harbor, and Portland damaged by storms Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she has secured a total of $42,082,000, funding the U.S. Coast Guard requested for repairs to Coast Guard facilities in Rockland, Southwest Harbor, and Portland damaged by recent storms. This funding was included in disaster relief legislation that has passed Congress and been… Continue Reading
12.21.24
$14 Million to Combat Spruce Budworm in Maine and New Hampshire Forests Secured by Senator Collins in Disaster Relief Bill
Funding will treat nearly 300,000 acres of Maine forests and prevent further spread Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she has secured $14 million to help combat the spread of spruce budworm in Maine forests in disaster relief legislation. The federal funding will be supplemented by state and private money for spraying. The bill has passed Congress and been signed into law. “Throughout history, spruce budw… Continue Reading
12.21.24
Senate Passes Legislation to Avert Government Shutdown, Provide Disaster Relief
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor ahead of the Senate’s 85-11 vote to pass the continuing resolution and disaster relief supplemental package. The legislation now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. A transcript of Senator Collins’ remarks are as follows: “Madam President, I rise to urge passage of the American Relief Act… Continue Reading
12.18.24
$14 Million to Combat Spruce Budworm in Maine and New Hampshire Forests Secured by Senator Collins in Disaster Relief Bill
Funding would help treat nearly 300,000 acres of Maine forests and prevent further spread Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she has secured $14 million to help combat the spread of spruce budworm in Maine forests in disaster relief legislation that was released last night. The federal funding would be supplemented by state and private money for spraying. The bill now awaits consideration by the Senate and the… Continue Reading
12.17.24
Senator Collins’ Statement on Continuing Resolution and Disaster Relief Supplemental Package
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the continuing resolution and disaster relief supplemental package: “Most important, the legislative package released tonight contains a continuing resolution, which will prevent an unnecessary and costly government shutdown that otherwise would occur on Friday, December 20th, at midnight. “Also included is much-needed disaster relief funding. Every st… Continue Reading
11.20.24
Senator Collins Co-Chairs Hearing on Disaster Relief Supplemental Request
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, co-chaired a full Committee hearing on the President’s disaster relief supplemental funding request for communities affected by recent natural disasters, including Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Today’s hearing featured two panels of witnesses: U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) on Panel I and Secretary of Department of Transportation … Continue Reading
11.14.24
Senator Collins’ Statement on Partisan Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations Act posted by Senate Democratic leadership: “Senate Democratic leadership’s decision to forego bringing bills to the Senate floor and leave committee-reported bills languishing on the calendar is unacceptable. This has unfortunately led to a unilateral decision from the Majority to post a partisan measure… Continue Reading
09.25.24
Senate Passes Short-Term Government Funding Measure
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor today ahead of the Senate’s 78-18 vote to pass the continuing resolution. The legislation now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. A transcript of Senator Collins’ remarks are as follows: Now Madam President, I rise to urge passage of the government funding measure that was approved by the House of … Continue Reading
09.18.24
Senator Collins Calls for Action on Government Funding Bills
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Defense, delivered remarks on the Senate floor today to urge action on the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bills and warn against the dangers of long-term continuing resolutions. A transcript of Senator Collins’ remarks are as follows: Mr. President, I rise today to point out that we are only 12 days from the end o… Continue Reading
08.01.24
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