$750,000 for Fishermen Feeding Mainers Program 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 $750,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for a Maine Seafood and Community Partnership, also known as the Fishermen Feeding Mainers Program, in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“The Fishermen Feeding Mainers program supports fishermen by helping them supply food banks with locally caught seafood,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would help Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association and their partners to support Maine’s fishermen, working waterfront, and blue economy, while supplying fresh, healthy seafood to those in need. 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 Maine Coast Fishermen's Association (MCFA), the fishermen of Maine, and our shared working waterfront communities, we want to thank Senator Collins for the amazing support she continues to show to Maine's fishing community. MCFA's Fishermen Feeding Mainers Program represents a unique opportunity that connects fishermen, working waterfront, and those facing food insecurity in Maine together through seafood,” said Ben Martens, Executive Director of the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association. “This funding would allow this program to continue to invest in our people, feed our community, and keep our working waterfront working."
If enacted, this funding would support the purchase of fish directly from Maine fishermen at market price, contract with local working waterfront businesses to process the fish, and donate it to schools, food banks, and community groups statewide.
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY24 CJS 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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