Bill to Fund Key Workforce, Health, and Education Programs in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee
Bill includes more than $142 million for nearly 60 projects across Maine
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for Maine in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 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 bipartisan vote of 26-2, provides $224.4 billion in discretionary funding.
“To address Maine’s shortage of healthcare professionals, we must invest in workforce development programs, provide support for students in lower-income communities seeking higher education, and increase access to affordable childcare,” said Senator Collins. “I am pleased that this bipartisan bill provides support in each of these areas, as well as increases funding for life-saving research on Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, and tick-borne diseases. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Bill Highlights:
Local Projects: $142,115,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for 57 requests across Maine through the FY24 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill.
National Institutes of Health: $47.4 billion, supporting an increase of $943 million for biomedical investments in research. Additionally, provides $407 million in CURES funding.
- Alzheimer’s: Increase of $100 million specifically for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias research.
- Cancer: $7.380 billion for the National Cancer Institute, an increase of $276 million above the FY23 enacted level, maintaining Cancer Moonshot and Childhood Cancer STAR Act activities.
- Mental Health: $2.438 billion for the National Institute of Mental Health, including an increase of $100 million specifically for mental health research and maintains funding for the BRAIN Initiative.
- Opioids: $655.6 million for the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative, an increase of $20 million above the FY23 enacted level.
- Diabetes: $2.311 billion for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, an increase of $10 million above the enacted FY23 level. The bill also includes $156 million for CDC Division of Diabetes Translation activities and $37.5 million for the National Diabetes Program.
Alzheimer’s: In addition to NIH funding, the bill provides $40 million for CDC Alzheimer’s disease activities, an increase of $1.5 million above the FY23 enacted level. The bill also includes language urging CMS to reconsider Medicare’s National Coverage Determination policy for FDA-approved Alzheimer’s disease therapies. $31.5 million is included for the Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) Alzheimer's Disease Program. This Program also directs $2 million to the National Alzheimer’s Call Center, which provides 24/7/365 telephone support, crisis counseling, care consultation, and referral services for persons with Alzheimer’s disease, their family members, and informal caregivers.
Opioid Epidemic: $5 billion, an increase of $132.5 million above the enacted FY23 level, for improving prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Funding will support strengthening the workforce, especially in rural communities, and expanding research for critical needs, such as funding alternative pain medications. The bill continues to provide states flexibility to use opioid response funds on stimulants across multiple programs. In 2022, there were an estimated 109,680 drug overdose deaths, emphasizing the need to continue these critical resources.
Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease: $27.5 million for CDC Lyme activities, including an increase of $1.5 million above the FY23 enacted level to support continued implementation of Senator Collins’ Kay Hagan Tick Act. The bill also includes $6.526 billion for NIAID and report language prioritizing Lyme and tick-borne disease research.
Long COVID: $5 million in new funding for Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to competitively select Long COVID Centers of Excellence.
Health Workforce Programs: $302.5 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce programs, an increase of $2 million above the FY23 enacted level, $48.2 million for HRSA Geriatric workforce education programs, which include the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program and Geriatric Academic Career Awards, and $172 million for Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training, an increase of $19 million above the Fy23 enacted level.
Building Communities of Recovery: $17 million for Building Communities of Recovery grants through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and $2 million for National Peer Run Training and Technical Assistance Center for Addiction Recovery Support.
SIREN Rural EMS: $11.5 million for SAMHSA’s Rural Emergency Medical Services Training and Equipment program.
Lifespan Respite Care: $11.5 million for ACL’s Lifespan Respite Care Program.
Older Americans Act: $210 million for the National Family Caregiver Support Program, an increase of $5 million from the FY23 enacted level.
LIHEAP: $4.075 billion, an increase of $75 million above the FY23 enacted level.
Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG): $8.7 billion, an increase of $700 million from the FY23 enacted level.
Head Start: $12.3 billion, an increase of $275 million above the FY23 enacted level.
Apprenticeships: $290 million, an increase of $5 million.
H-2B Visas: Continued inclusion of bill language to ensure the efficacy of the H-2B program. Also includes $61.5 million for Foreign Labor Certification program administration, in part to help with H-2B processing, as well as report language directing the Department of Labor (DOL) to take steps to ensure prompt processing of H-2B visa applications.
Job Corps: $1.76 billion for the Job Corps program.
DOL Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative: $6.5 million for the Northern Border Regional Commission.
Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies: $18.6 billion, an increase of $175 million above the FY23 enacted level. Maine is expected to receive approximately $62.3 million in FY23 through this program.
IDEA Grants to States: $14.4 billion, an increase of $175 million above the FY23 enacted level. Maine is expected to receive approximately $65.5 million in FY23 through this program.
Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) State Grants: $1.47 billion for CTE State Grants, an increase of $40 million above the FY23 enacted level. Maine is expected to receive approximately $7 million in FY23 through this program.
Pell Maximum Award: Increase of $250 to the maximum Pell award for a total of $7,645 for the 2024-2025 school year. Maine students are expected to receive approximately $92 million in Pell Grants in FY23.
Rural Education (REAP): $220 million, an increase of $5 million and new bill language to ensure that Maine LEAs are held harmless at last year’s funding levels.
Title IV Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants: $1.4 billion for Title IV Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, an increase of $20 million from the FY23 enacted level. Maine is expected to receive approximately $6.7 million in FY23 through this program.
TRIO: $1.19 billion to support low-income individuals and first-generation college students.
Title II Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants: $2.19 billion for Title II Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants. Maine is expected to receive approximately $10.8 million in FY23 through this program.
21st Century Community Learning Centers: $1.33 billion to support before- and after-school programs aimed at improving student academic outcomes. Maine is expected to receive approximately $6.5 million in FY23 through this program.
GEAR UP: $388 million to increase college readiness and success for low-income students.
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools: $36 million for Special Olympics programs.
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