Senator Collins’ Statement on Senate Passage of Five-Bill FY26 Funding Package
Senate approved the five-bill package by a strong bipartisan margin of 71 to 29, package now heads back to the House of Representatives for final passage
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate voted 71 to 29 to approve a five-bill package. It includes full-year funding for the Department of Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
“This evening, the Senate passed legislation that includes full-year funding for five important Appropriations bills. These bills will support our national security through investments in our military; strengthen court security and invest in oversight of federal programs; support lifesaving biomedical research; modernize our nation’s outdated air traffic system and address the air traffic controller shortage; and support America’s workforce, and children and families.
"In addition, this legislation continues funding for the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks to allow us additional time to consider proposals to supplement the reforms already in the bill, such as body-worn cameras for ICE officers.
“When his package is signed into law, in addition to the previously passed bills, we will have funded 96 percent of all of government. This marks an important milestone and shows that Congress can work together in a bipartisan manner to carry out our Article I responsibilities and deliver results for the people we are honored to represent.”
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Senator Collins was praised for her leadership of the Appropriations Committee, with former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying:
“I’d be remiss in not acknowledging the dedicated, collaborative efforts of colleagues who recognize the importance of the task at hand, particularly Chair Susan Collins—clearly the most outstanding Appropriations Chair in the time that I’ve been here.”
Delaware Senator Chris Coons also lauded the Committee’s leadership:
“When we began this year’s appropriations process, the task before us seemed almost impossible. It has been many, many years since we have completed the full appropriations process, and there were lots of challenges in a divided nation and a divided congress. And I just wanted to, briefly this evening, as we conclude this process in the Senate, take a moment and thank the Chair and Vice Chair of the full Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins and Senator Murray. They and their staff made the impossible real. The bills just passed through this body and headed to the House will save lives and change them, will fund hundreds of billions of dollars of positive and valuable activity on behalf of the people of the United States.”
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