Majority News Releases
Senator Collins Presses U.S. Attorney General on Cuts to Programs that Support Survivors of Domestic Violence
Proposed Funding Cuts Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Justice yesterday, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi on proposed funding cuts to programs established by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that support survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Senator Collins was an original co-sponsor of the VAW… Continue Reading
06.25.25
Senator Collins’ Opening Statement at Hearing on President’s Rescissions Package Request
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following opening statement at a full Committee hearing with Director of Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought to review the President’s $9.4 billion rescissions package request: “We convene today to review the special message transmitted on June 3rd by the President under the Impoundment Control Act (ICA). That message proposes to… Continue Reading
06.25.25
Senator Collins Questions U.S. Attorney General on Federal Response to Illegal Marijuana Grows in Maine
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi on how federal law enforcement is supporting the efforts of state, county, and local law enforcement to combat illegal Chinese marijuana growing operations in Maine. Q&A on Illegal Marijuana Grows: Senator Collins: Let me turn to j… Continue Reading
06.24.25
Senator Collins Questions Navy Officials on Arleigh Burke Destroyer Contract, PNSY Dry Dock Expansion
Arleigh Burke Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download PNSY Dry Dock One Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget request for the Navy, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of the Navy John Phelan on the timing for awarding a third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, for which she secured funding in the FY 2025 funding bill. Senator Collins also p… Continue Reading
06.11.25
Senator Collins Presses Secretary of Defense on Inadequate Shipbuilding Budget Request, PNSY Hiring Delays
Shipbuilding Budget Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download PNSY Hiring Delays Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget request for the Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the inadequate budget request for shipbuilding at a time when China’s naval power continues to grow. Senator Colli… Continue Reading
06.10.25
Senator Collins Questions NIH Director on Cuts to Alzheimer’s Research, Cap on Indirect Costs
Alzheimer’s Research Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Cap on Indirect Costs Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned NIH Director Jayanta Bhattacharya on proposed funding cuts to Alzheimer’s research and a 15 percent cap on indirect costs. In February, Senator … Continue Reading
06.04.25
Senator Collins Questions Secretary of Commerce on Lobster Regulations, Canadian Tariffs
Lobster Industry Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Canadian Tariffs Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on regulations placed on Maine’s lobster industry and the latest on Canadian tariffs. Q&A on Lobster Regulations: … Continue Reading
06.03.25
Senator Collins’ Statement on President’s Rescissions Package Request
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a statement on the President’s rescissions package request. “The Congress has received from the Administration a $9.4 billion package of proposed rescissions of funding that had been previously approved for a wide range of foreign aid programs and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Congress will have 45 days to act on the proposed rescissions package. “Despite this fast track… Continue Reading
06.03.25
Senator Collins Presses Secretary of Education on Elimination of TRIO, Pell Grant Expansion
TRIO Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Pell Grant Q&A: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on the proposed elimination of TRIO programs and expanding Pell Grants to be used for short-term training programs. This morning, Senato… Continue Reading
05.29.25
Senator Collins’ Statement on DOL’s Pause on Job Corps Operations
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a statement on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) phased pause in operations at Job Corps centers nationwide. “I strongly oppose the Department of Labor’s directive to pause operations at Job Corps centers in Maine and across the country. Serving nearly 500 students in Maine, the Loring Job Corps Center and the Penobscot Job Corps Center have become important pillars of support for some of ou… Continue Reading
05.22.25
Senator Collins Urges Secretary of Labor to Reverse Halt on Job Corps Enrollment in Maine
Click HERE to download video and HERE to download photos. Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, urged DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to reverse the Department’s halt of new enrollment at Maine’s two Job Corps centers—Loring Job Corps Center (LJCC) and Penobscot Job Corps Center (Penobscot)—and the proposed elimination of the Job Corps progra… Continue Reading
05.20.25
Senator Collins Questions HHS Secretary Kennedy on Elimination of LIHEAP
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on the proposed elimination of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). During the Q&A, Secretary Kennedy committed to funding LIHEAP if appropriated by Congress for Fiscal Y… Continue Reading
05.15.25
Senator Collins Questions Secretary of Transportation on Rural Airports Program, Maine Maritime Academy
“In Maine, we have five airports that would not have commercial air service but for the Essential Air Service program.” Q&A on Rural Airports Program: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Q&A on Maine Maritime Academy: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secreta… Continue Reading
05.15.25
Senator Collins Secures $23 Million to Prevent Erosion at Camp Ellis
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $23 million for the Maine Army Corps of Engineers to prevent erosion at Camp Ellis in Saco. This funding, which was included in the Fiscal Year 2025 full-year continuing resolution, supports the construction of a 750-foot spur jetty and the replenishment of an estimated 300,000 cubic yards of sand fill. “The construction of a spur jetty at Camp Ellis will help t… Continue Reading
05.08.25
Senator Collins Questions Secretary of Homeland Security, FBI Director on Illegal Marijuana Grow Operations in Maine
Q&A with Secretary Noem: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Q&A with FBI Director Patel: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - At hearings to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget requests for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel about federal law enforcement efforts to help shut down il… Continue Reading
05.06.25
Senator Collins Questions Secretary of Agriculture on Delayed USDA Funding, UMaine PFAS Center of Excellence
Q&A on USDA Funding: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Q&A on PFAS: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Brooke Rollins, on the delayed release of funding and its partnership with the University of Maine (UMaine). … Continue Reading
05.02.25
Senator Collins Secures $50 Million for Maine Air National Guard Hangar
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $50 million for the Maine Air National Guard to construct a new hangar in Bangor. This funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2025 full-year continuing resolution. “Home to the MAINEiacs, the Maine Air National Guard’s 101st Air Refueling Wing in Bangor plays an important role in our national defense,” said Senator Collins. “This funding will provide for the construc… Continue Reading
05.02.25
Senator Collins’ Statement on President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2026
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a statement on the President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2026. “The President’s Budget Request is simply one step in the annual budget process. This request has come to Congress late, and key details still remain outstanding. Based on my initial review, however, I have serious objections to the proposed freeze in our defense funding given the security challenges we face and to the pr… Continue Reading
04.30.25
Senator Collins Questions MDI Lab President on NIH Cap on Indirect Research Costs
Q&A with Dr. Haller: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download. Opening Statement: Click HERE to watch, HERE to download video, and HERE to download text. Washington, D.C. - At an U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing today chaired by Senator Susan Collins, she questioned Dr. Hermann Haller, President of the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDI Lab), on how the proposed National Institutes of Health (NIH) cap on indirect costs would affect the important biomedical … Continue Reading
04.10.25
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