Congress Approves $750,000 for Fishermen Feeding Mainers Program Secured by Senator Collins
The funding now heads to the President to be signed into law
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $750,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the Maine Seafood and Community Partnership, also known as the Fishermen Feeding Mainers Program, in the Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill. The bill, which was included in legislation that passed the Senate today, now heads to the President to be signed into law.
“The Fishermen Feeding Mainers program supports fishermen by helping them supply food banks with locally caught seafood,” said Senator Collins. “This funding will assist the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association and their partners in their efforts to support Maine’s fishermen, working waterfronts, and blue economy while suppling fresh, healthy seafood to those in need.”
“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 will allow this program to continue to invest in our people, feed our community, and keep our working waterfront working."
This funding will 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.
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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