Majority News Releases
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
05.11.23
Senator Collins Underscores Critical Need to Support Ukraine, Calls for Accelerated Delivery of Abrams Tanks
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, called on the Administration to provide Ukraine with swift support. In addition, Senator Collins questioned Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the delivery of 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. During her opening remarks, Senator Collins said: One final point on Ukraine, about which… Continue Reading
05.11.23
Senator Collins Calls for Continued Support from FBI, DEA to Combat Opioid Epidemic in Maine
Washington, D.C. — At a hearing to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, urged FBI Director Christopher Wray and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram to provide support for the Southern Maine Gang Task Force and the New England Prescription Opioid Task Force. Senator Collins said: Last month, employe… Continue Reading
05.09.23
Senator Collins Calls for Increased Funding for Alzheimer’s Research & Broader Access to Alzheimer’s Therapies
Washington, D.C. — At a hearing to review the fiscal year budget request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, called for increased funding for Alzheimer’s research. In addition, Senator Collins questioned the Director of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Dr. Richard Hodes, on the devastating effect the Centers for Medicaid Services’ (CMS) refusal to provide coverage for FDA-app… Continue Reading
04.28.23
Senator Collins Questions USAID Administrator about Preventing Maternal and Child Deaths
Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, questioned the Administrator of USAID, Samantha Power, on the effectiveness of the Reach Every Mother and Child Act, bipartisan legislation she introduced last Congress, that would strengthen the United States’ efforts to end preventable deaths of mothers, newborns, and young children in the developing world by 2030. Specifically, Senator Collins emphasized the critical reforms needed to increase the success and impact of USAID's maternal and child survival programs.
Continue Reading04.28.23
Senator Collins Questions Veterans Affairs Secretary on Need to Support Veterans’ Homes Without Delay
Washington, D.C. - At a hearing to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary Denis McDonough on the importance of Veteran Affairs (VA) partnering with rural communities and supporting their veterans’ homes. Senator Collins also questioned Secretary McDonough on the delays in VA rulemaking, highlighting her legislation, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act. Despite it being signed into law December 2020, the VA is still in the rulemaking process two years after the bill’s enactment.
Continue Reading04.20.23
Senator Collins Questions Secretary of the Air Force on Alarming Leak of Classified Document
Washington, D.C.— At a hearing to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and the Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, questioned the Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall about the alarming leak of classified documents by a junior member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. The disclosures allegedly contained highly sensitive national security information, which has been widely reported in the press.
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