Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $20,462,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the City of Presque Isle’s International Airport (PQI) in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“PQI plays a critical role in Northern Maine’s infrastructure,” said Senator Collins. “Replacing this terminal with one that meets FAA standards will help attract more travelers, tourists, and businesses to Aroostook County. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
“On behalf of the Presque Isle International Airport, I would like to thank Senator Collins for her support in advancing the funding needed to construct a new airline passenger terminal,” said PQI Airport Director Scott Wardwell. “This funding is critical to the project’s completion and to meeting the current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) modernization recommendations. By implementing the FAA’s recommendations, the new terminal building would not only better serve our current passengers but would also allow for significant growth in the future.”
This funding would be used to implement critical updates and modernizations with a full replacement of the existing terminal that was built in 1954. The proposed terminal would be fully ADA compliant and would utilize environmentally conscious technologies such as energy efficient lighting, low flow plumbing fixtures, and electric vehicle charging stations.
In June, Senator Collins visited PQI for a tour and a briefing on the new terminal design.
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY24 THUD appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate. Committee consideration of legislation is a key part of regular order, which helps our government function efficiently and deliver results for the people of Maine and America.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $500 million for hundreds of Maine projects for FY2022 and FY2023. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
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