Majority News Releases
Bill to Fund Key Transportation and Housing Programs in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for Maine in the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Act. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 27-1, provides $400 million in defense funding and $99.… Continue Reading
07.24.25
Bill to Fund Key Interior and Environmental Programs in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for Maine in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 26-2, provides $38.6 billion in nondefense discretion… Continue Reading
07.24.25
Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 26-2 Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 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 vote of 26-2, provides $38.6 billion in nondefense discretionary funding. “From programs geared toward providing clean drinking water an… Continue Reading
07.24.25
Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 27-1 Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act, providing resources to revitalize America’s infrastructure, improve aviation safety, and address housing availability and affordability challenges. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 27-1, provides $400 million in defense funding and $99.8 billion … Continue Reading
07.22.25
Senate Votes to Advance FY 2026 MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill
Bill advanced by a procedural vote of 90-8 Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor ahead of the Senate’s 90-8 procedural vote to advance the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act. This bipartisan bill advanced out of the Committee last week by a vote of 26-3. A transcript of S… Continue Reading
07.18.25
Bill to Support Maine’s Lobster Industry Clears Appropriations Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced significant funding and key language to support Maine’s lobster industry in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House. “This funding would support Maine’s lobster indus… Continue Reading
07.18.25
Bill to Fund Key Military Construction Projects in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 26-3 Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for Maine in the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 26-3, provides $153.5 billion in discretionary funding, including $19.8 billion in defense funding and $133.6 billion in nondefense fundi… Continue Reading
07.17.25
Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2026 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 19-10, provides $79.7 billion in discretionary funding, including $6.6 billion in defense funding and $73.1 billion in nondefense funding. "This legislation i… Continue Reading
07.17.25
Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 26-3 Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 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 vote of 26-3, provides $153.5 billi… Continue Reading
07.15.25
Senator Collins’ Statement on Rescissions Package
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on her vote against discharging the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) rescissions package. “The rescissions package has a big problem - nobody really knows what program reductions are in it. That isn’t because we haven’t had time to review the bill. Instead, the problem is that OMB has never provided the details that would normally be part of this process. … Continue Reading
07.10.25
Bill to Fund Key Agricultural Programs in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 27-0 Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for projects in Maine in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The measure, which was advanced by a unanimous vote of 27-0, provides $27.1 billion in discretionary funding. Committee markup of the FY 2026 Agr… Continue Reading
07.10.25
Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 Agriculture Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 27-0 Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, to invest in America’s rural communities, support our nation’s farmers and ranchers, keep our food supply secure, and maintain nutritional support for low-income American families. The measure, which was advanced by a unanimous vote of 27-0, pr… Continue Reading
07.10.25
Senate Committee Approves FY 2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill
Bill passes Committee by a vote of 26-1 Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, providing support for physical and cyber security, technology infrastructure, and overall legislative work capacity. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 26-1, provides $7.1 billion in discretionary funding for legislative branch agencies, when combined with funding for the U.S. House of Represent… Continue Reading
07.09.25
Senate Appropriations Committee Hosts Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress
Click HERE to watch the hearing. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, hosted a hearing titled, “A Future Without Type 1 Diabetes: Accelerating Breakthroughs and Creating Hope.” The hearing was held in conjunction with Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress, a biennial event to raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Approximately 170 Children’s… Continue Reading
06.26.25
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
06.18.25
ICYMI: Defense Daily: "Collins Slams Army’s Decision To Cancel Robotic Combat Vehicle"
Collins Slams Army’s Decision To Cancel Robotic Combat Vehicle Defense Daily | Cal Biesecker Video from Hearing: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download The chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday knocked the Army’s recent decision to cancel a robotic ground vehicle program that she said is a testament to the innovation the Defense Department needs on the battlefield. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll he “should r… 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