$2 Million for Maine Maritime Academy Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) 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 yesterday, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“Maine Maritime Academy has a longstanding record of preparing generations of sailors through its exceptional programing,” said Senator Collins. “As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
“This project greatly enhances the MMA campus, addressing safety and energy efficiency improvements. This will also be used in the hands-on education of the marine and power engineering programs as a learning opportunity. It will convert older systems into modern cost saving equipment lower long-term operational costs,” said President of Maine Maritime Academy Jerry Paul.
This funding would support energy efficiency and safety upgrades on MMA’s campus in Castine, including a new ventilation system, building renovations, and fire safety equipment.
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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